CORONATION OF EDWARD VII, 1902 ~ 67 photographs of the Coronation Procession on August 9th 1902; together with a Silver Coronation Medal.
A collection of contemporary silver gelatin photographic prints of the Coronation Procession in London, 9th August, 1902. These photographs are taken from a few vantage points: Whitehall, Piccadilly opposite The Ritz, Horseguards Parade and Westminster Abbey. They include a close image of Edward VII and Alexandra in their open carriage outside Westminster Abbey and a good shot of George V on his horse seemingly in Hyde Park.
Comprising:
a) 7 duplicate copies of a photograph of Edward VII and Alexandra in the open royal carriages as part of the Coronation Procession outside Westminster Abbey
b) 2 duplicate copies of an image of the future George V on his horse seemingly in Hyde Park or more probably Horseguards Parade
c) 3 different photographs taken of the proceedings from a single vantage point outside Westminster Abbey
d) 14 photographs (including 7 duplicates) from a vantage point looking down on various parts of the procession going through the Canada Gate which state “Canada: Free Homes for Millions” (7 duplicates). The photographs are numbered in the prints from 384 to 391.
e) 19 different photographs of various parts of the Coronation Procession taken by the company M & Co each with its own copyright number and the company stamp on the verso taken from a superb vantage point on Whitehall
f) 4 different photographs of massed bands and carriages and including Australian and Indian troops taken on Horseguards Parade
g) 18 photographs (including 7 duplicates) of various parts of the Coronation Procession taken from an excellent vantage point on Piccadilly. The photographs are numbered in the prints from 392 to 402.
Together with: Silver Coronation Medal, 56mm in diameter. Upper side with a profile portrait of the King and lettered ‘Edward VII Crowned 9 August 1902’, reverse with a profile portrait of the crowned Queen and lettered ‘Alexandra Queen Consort 9 August 1902’. Contained in its original velvet and silk lined presentation red morocco box stamped in gilt on the upper cover.
Commemorative medals were issued in two sizes, 56 mm and 31 mm in diameter and in different metals, with the larger, as we have here, being struck in gold, silver and bronze. They were only awarded to people who attended the coronation or participated in the processions. The silver medal was given to members of the Royal family, foreign dignatories, senior government officials and service officers involved in the coronation parade.
This medal was issued to Detective John Sweeney, the son of evicted Irish emigrants from Kerry who rose to be a senior police officer, and who was put in charge of the security for Queen Victoria’s visit to Ireland in 1900 and of the removal of the Crown Jewels from Windsor to London during the postponement of Edward’s coronation for health reasons in June 1902.