QUEEN MARY’S RECORD

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19887, 16 May 1936, Page 24 (Supplement)

QUEEN MARY’S RECORD

OF HER JEWELLERY. (Times Air Mail.) LONDON, April 1. In having a record made of her jewellery in book form, Queen Mary is following the plan her Majesty has adopted with regard to her private art collection (says the Dally Telegraph). Years ago Queen Mary had a catalogue of her treasures made In handwriting. The description in every case was supplied by her Majesty, and a photograph of each object was placed beside it. Queen Mary showed it to Sir Cecil Harcourt-Smith, who was then Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum. He asked her for permission to have it printed. This was done in 1921, ■ and six copies were made and beautij fully bound in -crushed strawberry i coloured leather tooled with gold. The Queen's monogram beneath a crown was placed in the centre, and the book was enytled “Catalogue of the Art Collection of Queen Mary.” Treasured Gifts. The collection, which is made up largely of birthday and Christmas presents from the late King, Queen Mary’s children, and other members of the Royal Family, is always growing. A second --volume was made in 1931. Many of King George’s gifts are in the catalogue. Often His Majesty gave Queen Mary a trinket box. In 1912, on her birthday, It was a gold box with a panel of blue enamel, and on it Cupid with a shield before a seated maiden. Her growing love for and knowledge of jade Is reflected in the gifts King George purchased while their Majesties were in India together, and later of her family. Often the Queen’s children combined to give her a Christmas or birthday gift, and the inscription is worded: “From David, Bertie and Elizabeth. Harry and Mary Lascelles, Harry and George.” The catalogue includes a modern miniature of Princess Mary in a white dress given to her mother on her wed- r ding day, February 20, 1922.