Description

Stevens, Thomas. H.R.H. Alexandra Princess of Denmark, H.R.H. Albert Edward, Prince of Wales. Coventry: T. Stevens [1862]. A souvenir silk book-marker, a Stevengraph, commemorating the engagement of Edward, Prince of Wales to Princess Alexandra of Denmark on September 9, 1862. Called a Stevengraph after Thomas Stevens (1828-1888), the inventor of a loom that produced examples of this fine mechanical weaving at his factory in Coventry. These two portraits of the Prince and Princess of Wales-to-be were woven entirely of pure woven silk, serving as a bookmark. Measuring 20 cm x 4.5 cm, this dual image features Princess Alexandra wreathed in lilies, with a coronet above her head; and, the Prince of Wales with three feathers above his head, wreathed in heather, as Princess Alexandra was given a spring of heather by Queen Victoria that was picked by her son, the Prince of Wales, Albert Edward. At the bottom of the book-marker is a triangular fold underneath a spray of thistles and shamrocks. On the verso of this fold is woven “T. Stevens Coventry.” Fine. Godden, 479.