This rather unassuming book with its stylised VA on the cover, is a copy of
Leaves from the Journal of Our Life in the Highlands
written by a lady known less for her literary works and more for a name that she gave to an era.
Queen Victoria.
I purchased this book at auction because it is a signed copy, dated 1868. One of Victoria's favourite Prime Ministers who knew how to flatter, referenced the Queen's writing with his own, by beginning a sentence, "We authors, Ma'am...", which worked like a charm. He was of course Benjamin Disraeli. Disraeli further flattered Victoria by creating her Empress of India, so that she and subsequent monarchs until India's independence in 1947, signed their names RI. This signature predates the imperial title and is therefore only Victoria R.
10 comments:
What a magnificent thing to be custodian of!
One of my favourite assessments of ol' Queen Vicky was that she "... sat on England like a paperweight..."
That conjures up a wonderful image for me.
I don't suppose it will be the most riveting of reads, but it's rather fun to think it's 145 years old, and I shall treasure its historical context.
How fascinating! i love to read old books and manuscripts and actually collects them. Always on the look at in the booksellers shop in paris or at auctions.
I'm sure Paris has some wonderful antiquarian booksellers, including of course Shakespeare & Company on the Left Bank, opposite Notre Dame.
Wow, what a find! While it might not be the most riveting of reads, as you say, I'm sure you'll garner a few interesting insights. I know from what I've read of Victoria, that she memorialized practically every little twig that died.
That is quite an association copy. I have not yet found the right photograph of Queen Victoria, but I do have some images of Osborne House, her residence on the Isle of Wight.
We collectors, sir, should honor the woman whose name graces so much of what went on in the world.
--Road to Parnassus
Mark - it will interesting to see. I wont get my hands on it for a while.
Parnassus - this copy was actually signed at Osborne. Not sure what you mean by finding the right photo of QV. Is that for your collection? There is obviously quite a variety given her longevity.
Columnist R
What a fabulous book to own!
Yes, I think so. Hope it reaches me OK. Seems to be some delay at the USPS because they say my address (in Scotland) doesn't have a city name...duh, it's not in a city!
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