Commemorative souvenir silks of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's wedding 1840

[QUEEN VICTORIA AND PRINCE ALBERT]. Two commemorative souvenir silks recording their marriage at the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, 10 February 1840. London: printed by Francis Watts, Cannon Row, [1840].

Two silk sheets, each approximately 175x230mm, printed on one side in blue. Edges frayed, causing slight loss of text; scattered light brown spots and creasing. One sheet with a small hole towards the upper right corner. Delicate survivors retaining substantially legible text. Good. 

Issued to commemorate the marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, these silks reproduce portions of the official account published in The London Gazette supplement of 13 February 1840. Francis Watts, whose imprint appears on the second sheet, was also the Gazette's printer and publisher.

The first sheet records part of the Queen's procession, naming members of the royal family, officers of the household and the twelve unmarried ladies who carried her train. The second continues the list of attendants before describing their positions in the chapel and the marriage service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. It records the firing of the Park and Tower guns upon the declaration of marriage, the couple's return to the Throne-room to attest the marriage register, and the evening illuminations throughout London.

Scarce contemporary royal commemorative printing on silk, preserving the ceremonial detail of Victoria and Albert's wedding.