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New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 18, 2 November 1910, Page 35

By

Royal Warrant.

PURVEYORS TO HIS MAJESTY. WHAT IT AMOUNTS TO. The right to print the Royal Coat of Arms upon the goods one sells, surmounted by the legend, “By Special Appointment Purveyor to His Majesty the King.” is one which is coveted by all British—and many foreign—tradesmen and manufacturers. It gives, as it were, the stamp of royal approval to the product of the

firm. No man may use the royal arms without a special warrant, and a heavy fine follows any infraction of the rule. The device, of course, means that the article upon which it is placed is supplied to the King’s household, or that the shop which so proudly displays it is or has been patronised by His Majesty. But the mere fact of the King entering a cigar shop, and buying a cigar, does not give that tobacconist the right to use the royal arms on his cigar brands or upon the sign over his door. He must

receive the royal warrant before he can so advertise his wares. The late King Edward during his reign issued 940 of these warrants, so just 940 firms have been entitled to use the royal arms; but they were all expected to remove the device from their signs, their letter heads, and their labels when King Edward died, for the right to use it dies with the sovereign who grants it. The warrants are not a mark of exclusive privilege, for they may be granted to many men in the same line of business. For instance, there are brewers who have had the right to an-

nounce that they are “By Special Appointment Purveyors to His Majesty the King.” This, of course, does not mean that the King drank the beer brewed by all of them; as a matter of fact, King Edward rarely touched beer, for which he did not care; but it does mean that thei.' beer is supplied to the roj al cellars for the use of the King’s guests and household. Ten distillers sported the royal arms as purveyors of whisky to the King. Yet of whisky he partook very sparingly. The

same is true of wines, yet no less than 38 wine merchants claim the privilege of stocking his wine cellar. Six champagne firms and four brandy-makers can show documentary proof that they were patronised hy him. As an offset to this, no less than nine manufacturers of mineral waters and temperance drinks were among the ricipients of royal warrants. Twenty-six jewellers acquired the right to show the royal arms. Eight proprietors of perfumery make it impossible to guess what was the King's favourite scent. Five hairdressers are rivals for publie patronage on the ground that each of them enjoyed the royal patronage. Three chiropodists are entitled to call themselves royal corn-parers. It is generally supposed that the King patronised one particular firm of West End tailors, but 16 other tailors are provided with equal evidence that they made his clothes. A dozen hatters show the same proof that each of them made the King of England’s headgear. Sixteen butchers figured as purveyors of meat to His Majesty. Ten bakers were each supposed to supply the bread consumed at the royal table, and the same number of fishmongers produced claims that each of them supplied it with fish. Five soap manufacturers were purveyors of soap to His Majesty. Six bootmakers were appointed to provide him with boots. Eight tobacconists were entitled to display the royal arms. King Edward gave up cycling some years ago, finding himself a bit too stout and elderly for indulgence in that exercise, but six cycle manufacturers held royal warrants. Only one man can claim that he alone in his trade possessed a royal warrant. He is a chimney sweeper. There is also a firm which had a right to call itself “Vermin Destroyer to His Majesty.” This is the firm that keeps the royal kitchens clear of cockroaches and the royal pantries free of rats and mice. Tn addition to these there are 187 holders of royal warrants from Queen Alexandra. Among them are ten dressmakers, five milliners, and two corsetmakers.