THE QUEEN’S HANDKERCHIEFS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2086, 11 January 1908, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE QUEEN’S HANDKERCHIEFS.

Queen Alexandra took advantage of her recent visit to Dublin to add to her already large collection of handkerchiefs. She purchased a number of fine specimens edged with real Irish lace, besides some dozens of soft cambric of the finest- quality. The Queen’s handkerchiefs are expensive productions, costing no less than six guineas a dozen. They are of the finest material possible, and each is embroidered with the monogram “A,” surmounted by a crown. Perhaps the most expensive handkerchiefs used in England ia.ro,those I elonging to Lady Warwick, which cost sixteen guineas a dozen. Another specialist in handkerchiefs was the late Marquis of Anglesey, who paid fabulous sums for having his monogram and crest worked in human hair in each corner. The Queen of Italy possesses a handkerchief of old lace that is valued at the enormous sum of £6OOO, being the only one of its kind in existence. The Empress Josephine, to whose bad teeth, it is said, we are indebted for the discovery of the handkerchief, owned some wonderful lace creations, many of which have passed into the hands of English peeresses. It is no exaggeration to say that these trifles in laco ire worth their weight in gold a hundredfold. Queen Alexandra owns a number of historical handkerchiefs, which, needless to say, she keeps as curiosities rather than for use.