George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death. He became known as a symbol of British determination to win the Second World War against Germany.
Known as “Bertie” among his family and close friends, George VI was born in the reign of his great-grandmother Queen Victoria and was named after his great-grandfather Albert, Prince Consort. As the second son of King George V, he was not expected to inherit the throne and spent his early life in the shadow of his elder brother, Edward. He attended naval college as a teenager and served in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force during the First World War. In 1920, he was made Duke of York. He married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923, and they had two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret. In the mid-1920s, he had speech therapy for a stammer, which he never fully overcame. Reference: Wikipedia
The Coronation of King George VI, Trafalgar Square, London, 1937
HENRI CARTIER–BRESSON (1908–2004) The Coronation of King George VI, Trafalgar Square, London, 1937 gelatin silver print, printed later stamped photographer’s/Magnum copyright credit and variously numbered in pencil/ink (verso) image: 9 5/8 x 6 5/8 in. (24.5 x 27 cm.) sheet: 10 x 7 in. (25.5 x 12.9 cm.)
Sold for USD 2,750 at Christie’s in 2016
GEORGE VI (1895-1952) King of the United Kingdom 1936-52 & ELIZABETH (1900-2002) Queen Consort, the Queen Mother. A good vintage signed 6 x 6.5 photograph by both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth individually, the image showing the Royal couple seated together in a three quarter length pose accompanied by their young daughters Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. Photograph by Marcus Adams and signed by him in pencil to a light area at the base of the image. Signed (‘Bertie’) by King George VI with his family name and signed (‘Elizabeth’) by Queen Elizabeth, both in bold, dark fountain pen inks to the lower photographer’s mount and dated 1931 in the King’s hand.
Sold for £540 at International Autograph Auctions Europe S.L. in 2013
Booklet, children’s, Coronation Souvenir of George VI, paper, printed by DH Paisley, Government Printer, Australia, 1937. Monochrome two sheet booklet, folded with two metal staples, blue print on off white ground, 8 pages. Title page ‘Coronation Souvenir’. A souvenir of the coronation of George VI on 12 May 1937. The front has a photograph of the royal family (the king, queen mother, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret) and the words of the first verse of ‘God Save the King’, within a decorative border. The title of the publication is superimposed over a crown and crossed flags of Britain and Australia. Page 2 has the words and music of ‘Coronation Song’, an Australian composition by H.E.Horne. Page 3 lists the program of events for a gathering of school children to commemorate the occasion attended by the Governor of NSW Lord Wakehurst and the Premier Mr Stevens. Other pages contain a message from the Governor, a message from the Premier and messages from other dignitaries in attendance. Back page gives the printer’s name : ‘D.H.Paisley, Government Printer NSW’.
Reference: Museum of Applied Art and Sciences
Souvenir of the Coronation of Their Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. May 12, 1937. Publisher: Raphael Tuck & Sons (English, 1886–1960) English about 1937
Chromolithograph on card stock.
Reference: Museum of Fine Arts Boston
King George VI TYPESCRIPT DRAFT OF HIS SPEECH ON THE OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR II addressing the British people on the great struggle ahead (“In this grave hour, perhaps the gravest in our history, I send to every household of my people this message, written with the same depth of feeling for each one of you as if I were able to cross your threshold and speak to you myself…”), 3 pages, foolscap carbon copy typescript, pencil note on the left margin (“Intermediate draft of the King’s speech on the outbreak of war. I did the first draft, a good bit of which remains – but spoiled by translation into long sentences. Spoken stuff should be short winded H[arold] V[ale] R[hodes]”), dated 25 August 1939, dust staining to first page, nicks and tears, rust marks from old paperclip
Sold for 10,625 GBP at Sotheby’s in 2013
George VI photographed by Walter Stoneman, March 1938. Measures 9.75 in. x 7.125 in. image size and 12 in. x 9.125 in. mount size. Signed in pen lower right on mount below image. VG-EX/EX condition. Provenance: Formerly the personal collection of Robert Osborne, then by descent through family of Mr. Osborne. Each item or lot purchased is accompanied by a Letter of Provenance from the family of Robert Osborne that bears Mr. Osborne’s personal embossed seal.
Sold for $160 at Grant Zahajko Auctions, LLC in 2019
