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Call Number:
MSS 51
Holdings:
Accessible by appointment in the Study Room [Request]
Title(s):
Postcards of the British royal family
Date:
ca. 1897-ca. 2013
Extent:
1 linear feet
Classification:
Archives and Manuscripts
Abstract:
The collection comprises approximately 1000 postcards depicting members of the British royal family.
Provenance:
Yale Center for British Art, Gift of Rosemarie Haag Bletter and Martin Filler
Conditions Governing Access:
This collection is unprocessed and may not be available for immediate access.
Conditions Governing Use:
Copyright Undetermined

The collection is the physical property of the Yale Center for British Art. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the Archives Department.
Scope and Content:
The collection comprises approximately 1000 postcards depicting members of the British royal family. The postcards are arranged in a general chronological order (i.e., by reign) in four albums. They begin circa 1897 with cards relating to Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, a number of satirical cards dealing with her and the Boer War circa 1900, and memorial cards from 1901. One of the collection's highlights is a number of satirical Edward VII cards, many of French origin. For each of the reigns there are the expected coronation and funeral cards (including a series on Edward VII's obsequies), but also less common ones such as Edward VII's sojourns in Biarritz and Marienbad. There are a large number of postcards concerning George V and Mary, the weddings of all their children in turn, World War I patriotic cards, Silver Jubilee, etc. Also present is a selection of unusual Prince of Wales/Edward VIII postcards, including pre-abdication rarities of Edward and Mrs. Simpson, and an autographed postcard of the vicar who performed their marriage ceremony. George VI postcards include treatment of the coronation, Canadian, US, and French state visits before the war, wartime patriotic cards, and his funeral. Postcards for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II include depictions of Charles and Diana and conclude with a portrait of the family after the christening of Prince George (2013). Additionally, there are approximately 100 non-royal patriotic cards dealing mainly with Winston Churchill, but also Neville Chamberlain, and the London Blitz, including a series of cards called "London Under Fire" showing bombed-out ruins.
Genre:
Postcards and Portraits
Subject Terms:
History
Kings and rulers
South African War, 1899-1902
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1939-1945
Subject Period:
Bombardment, 1940-1941
Associated Places:
Great Britain
London (England)
Associated People/Groups:
Chamberlain, Neville, 1869-1940
Churchill, Winston, 1874-1965
Edward VII, King of Great Britain, 1841-1910
Elizabeth, Queen of Great Britain, II, 1926-
George, King of Great Britain, V, 1865-1936
George, King of Great Britain, VI, 1895-1952
Mary, Queen, consort of George V, King of Great Britain, 1867-1953
Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, 1819-1901
Windsor, Edward, Duke of, 1894-1972
Windsor, House of
Windsor, Wallis Warfield, Duchess of, 1896-1986
Finding Aid Title:
Postcards of the British royal family
Collection PDF:
https://ead-pdfs.library.yale.edu/11784.pdf
Archival Object:
https://archives.yale.edu/repositories/3/resources/11784
Metadata Cloud URL:
https://metadata-api.library.yale.edu/metadatacloud/api/aspace/repositories/3/resources/11784?mediaType=json&include-notes=1&include-all-subjects=1