The Queen’s Jewels: The Personal Collection of Elizabeth II by Leslie Field soon to be presented for sale on the tremendous BookLovers of Bath web site!
Published: New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1987, Hardback in dust wrapper.
Signed by the author on the dedication page unverified and reflected as such in the lack of premium. Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Colour Photographs [85]; Genealogical Tables to the Lining Papers;
From the cover: Queen Marys Lovers Knot Tiara, the Prince Albert Sapphire Brooch, the Cullinan Diamond, Queen Victorias Golden Jubilee Necklace
No jewelry collection in the world is more fabulous and historically important than the one owned by Britains Queen Elizabeth II.
The first book prepared with the full cooperation of Buckingham Palace, THE QUEENS JEWELS offers an engaging, thoroughly researched account of 400 years of the monarchys family-owned jewels. From Mary Queen of Scots pearls acquired by Elizabeth I in the 16th century to diamonds belonging to George III two centuries later, the acquiring and passing of jewels by one generation of royalty to the next has not only served to cultivate this remarkable collection to date there are a staggering 1,000 pieces but to symbolize the continuity of the monarchy.
THE QUEENS JEWELS reads like a family album, tracing the course of jewelry as worn by seven generations of queens such as the pendant diamond earrings favored by Queen Victoria; pearl chokers elevated to the height of fash-ion by Queen Alexandra; Queen Marys Cambridge and Delhi Durbar emeralds (the most magnificent jewelry parure in the Queens possession); Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mothers signature ropes of pearls; the Queens gold and ruby bracelet and diamond engagement ring specially designed by Prince Philip. The saga of these jewels emblems of love and marriage, of state and ceremony, of events heroic and tragic is in a sense a social history of English royalty.
Organized by gemstones (amethysts, aquamarines, coral, diamonds, emeralds, pearls, pearls and diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and turquoises), the book shows tiaras, necklaces, earrings, brooches, pendants, stomachers, rings, and bracelets as they have been worn over the centuries by queens, princesses, empresses, and duchesses. We see how fashion changes and repeats itself, how a style favored by one queen is altogether altered by another, and how, no matter how vast and diverse the collection, each queen has always had her much smaller trove of favorites, those pieces she wears again and again.
In constructing this tableau of riches and royals, author Leslie Field overlooked nothing. She was permitted access to the Royal Archives; pored over 450,000 photographs; read little-known memoirs; sifted through decades-old newspapers and periodicals; checked again and again story after story (how the Grand Duchess Vladimirs jewels were smuggled out of Russia to England in 1919; what are the rumors and the truth about the Duchess of Windsors jewels; and why the Princess of Wales, the future Queen, often chooses to wear costume jewelry).
From the famous discovery in 1905 of the Cullinan diamond (weighing over 3,000 carats) to a discussion of the difference between the Queens jewels and those of the Crown Regalia, which belong to the State, not a gemstone or a royal principal is overlooked.
With 285 photographs many never before seen that for the first time comprehensively catalogue this 400-year chain of jewels, THE QUEENS JEWELS is captivating reading for anyone interested in following this history of jewels from the personal collection of Elizabeth II.
Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper. A little rubbing to the top edges of the dust wrapper. Text complete, clean and tight.
192 pages. Index. Bibliography. 11¼” x 9″.
Of course, if you don’t like this one, may I draw your attention to more books hither or maybe further, hand picked, books in my Royalty catalogue?
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- the queens jewels the personal collection of elizabeth ii leslie field harry n abrams 9780810915251
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- the queens jewels the personal collection of elizabeth ii leslie field harry n abrams 9780810915251 b
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