Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (26 August 1819 – 14 December 1861) was the husband of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Born in the Saxon duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld to a family connected to many of Europe’s ruling monarchs, at the age of 20 Albert married his cousin, Victoria; they had nine children. Initially he felt constrained by his role of prince consort, which did not afford him power or responsibilities. He gradually developed a reputation for supporting public causes, such as educational reform and the abolition of slavery worldwide, and was entrusted with running the Queen’s household, office and estates. He was heavily involved with the organisation of the Great Exhibition of 1851, which was a resounding success. Reference: Wikipedia
Front page of a printed music sheet, featuring an image of a young Queen Victoria and Prince Albert dancing surrounded by a gold border of a repeated pattern of stylized floral (including fleur-de-lys?) and circle motifs. The Queen is wearing a pale pink dress and blue sash fastened with a brooch. The Prince is wearing military red coat with gold trimmings and medals, gols tassled sash around his waist, white breeches and a knee garter.
The popularity of sheet music was partly due to the increase in domestic ownership of pianos, particularly after the introduction of upright pianos in about 1827. ‘Pianomania’ apparently began to spread among the middle-income levels of society during the 1840s, providing a market for the relatively expensive sheet music.
Reference: © Victoria and Albert Museum
Portrait vignette of Prince Albert, bust length to right, in evening dress; with facsimile of Prince Albert’s autograph bottom right. Stipple and mixed media
Reference: © The Trustees of the British Museum
HANDKERCHIEF COMMEMORATING THE MARRIAGE OF QUEEN VICTORIA TO PRINCE ALBERT 1840 entitled Her Most Gracious Majesty and Prince Albert, London, published as the act directs by John Baker & Co, Feb’y 4th, 1840 37in. x 34in. (89cm. x 82cm.) monogrammed W.C.
Sold for GBP 438 at Christie’s in 2009
A 19th century engraving of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and their children ‘Presented by Mrs Colin Mackenzie to Mrs Thorneycroft in token of sincere regards’, 73 x 88 cm
Sold for £300 at Andrew Smith & Son in 2019
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha after Oscar Gustav Rejlander albumen carte-de-visite, (1857 or 1861) 2 7/8 in. x 2 1/8 in. (73 mm x 53 mm) image size Given by Algernon Graves, 1916
Reference: National Portrait Gallery
Prince Albert Silk Memorial Queen Victoria Consort Framed Mourning Ribbon 1861 14″H x 9″W
Sold for $180 at William Bunch Auctions & Appraisals in 2018
