ROYAL RELICS SHOWN IN LONDON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 140, 15 June 1937, Page 13

ROYAL RELICS SHOWN IN LONDON.

Victorias Little Black Boots.

(Special.— By Air Mail.)

LON DON', May 15.

Of particular interest in Coronation week was an exhibition of Royal and other relics at the London Gallery. Innumerable souvenirs of England's Royal Family from George I. to George VI. were on show, including a pair of little black riding boots worn by Queen Victoria when she was a child.

There was a tiny gold sovereign case with an embossed design of Windsor Castle on one side and the Royal Arms on the other. Inside were tiny coins in graduated sizes bearing the names and portraits in relief of each of the children oi tjueen Victoria and the Prince Consort. A Coronation brooch of Queen Victoria's time was offered for .5/ and an invitation card to George IV.'s Coronation for one gmnea. There was a card of admission to the House of Lords for the same occasion. In those days cruet sets, musr pots and plaques ("in memoriam") were very much embellished with portraits in colour.

A fan formed the lid in c hma of a teapot decorated with coloured pictures a C Wal ' d VIL and Alexanhrad «f y n P,PCS re emb « s ed with the Aead of Queen Victoria, and a timea V re}ic P of th Cand,es > fla g-painted, were we*: Qu ~°

An brdinary glass mineral water bottle aroused much interest. It had a faded j n the P or traite 6i King Edward flnl, u e " A, ? xandr a intermingled with flags, all m colour. It was called "Coronation fizz The bottle and its 35-year-old contents were on sale at half a guinea. ,

Worn by time, but still clearly distinguishable, was Queen Victoria's handwriting showing through the glass of a very solid paper-weight which she inscribed and signed for charity. A quaint flask, in the form of a statue of Queen Victoria, Sin high, was inscribed "My hope is my people."

Heart-ehaped dishes commemorating the Coronation of King Edward and Queen Alexandra, and an "in memoriam" plate, with a coloured plate of King Edward, a* well as a square kettle plate marking the Golden Jubilee of 1887, were other relics.

And there was a water-colour picture, priced at eight guineas, of the weddiii" procession of the present King and his Queen.