| History
of Jubilee Souvenirs
For the last three
centuries a popular to mark the occasion of Royal events
like the Jubilee is with commemorative souvenirs. The
English commemorative souvenirs, which date, from the
Restoration of Charles II, as king in 1660, Coronation
in 1661 and wedding in 1662. With new manufacturing
methods in the last 250 years make these items more
affordable by the general public.
Items used to commemorate Jubilees in the past and present
have been by coins, stamps and ceramics. To mark a Royal
Jubilee special issue coins were introduced to mark
the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887. The coins
were mainly issued in crown size, which is equal to
five shillings. This was because they allow more room
for detail. These commemorative coins are not for general
use and are almost collected in uncirculated mint condition.
Designed by Andrew Machin a special 25p coin was made
for The Queen's Silver Jubilee.
On the front of the coin shows The Queen on horseback,
and on the reverse, the coronation ampulla and anointing
spoon with a floral decoration around. In total 473,000
of these coins were issued in sterling silver and a
further 37,453,000 were issued in copper-nickel.
The first stamps connected to
a Royal event were those that were issued in 1887, the
year of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, even
though they were not meant as commemorative issue. The
first Specific Jubilee sets of stamps were issued in
1935 for George V’s Jubilee, these included issues
in dominions, which included Australia, Canada, India,
New Zealand and South Africa. In 1977 stamps were also
issued for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and came
to over 200 stamps in the UK, Crown dependencies and
Commonwealth countries.
Also popular with Jubilees is ceramic souvenirs. These
items survive in many a large number from the reign
of George III onwards. By using the industrialised production
methods of transfer prints to make affordable items
that include bowls, plaques, jugs, mugs and urns.
Even though there are the more
traditional items, over the years many more creative
Jubilee pieces have been made. For Queen Victoria's
Golden Jubilee, souvenir items were used, such as teapots,
butter dishes, mirrors, handkerchiefs, woven silk pictures
and even wallpaper and pipes. For the Silver Jubilee
plates, money boxes, jugs and vases to socks, shopping
bags, jigsaw puzzles and t-shirts were made.
Some, of the souvenirs that have
been made, not all of them have a high commercial value.
For example, those which are made in large quantities.
What gives these items their value is the meaning and
memories that go with the souvenirs.
|
