Description:

Elizabeth II Queen

Two Elizabeth II souvenir doilies purchased around the time of the queen's 1953-1954 Royal Tour of the Commonwealth, with remarkable provenance. The double fringed doilies have a red ground, crowned monogram "ER II" at center, and date "1953" appearing by single digit in each corner. In near fine condition, each machine-made doily measuring approximately 6.375" x 5.5". Comes with the handwritten paper slip from original purchaser. Deaccessioned from the Luray Museum of Luray, Virginia.


The paper slip is inscribed (here included with uncorrected spelling mistakes): "I am enclosing the 'ER' doilie I got in Eluthera Island (off Nassau) as a souvenir when Queen Eliz visited her provinces for the 1st time in '53 … " On the reverse of this letter fragment signed "Love - me", the correspondent proposed a future dinner party. In near fine condition, with uneven upper edge.


Elizabeth II embarked on a six-month Royal Tour of the Commonwealth soon after her coronation. She visited of the Caribbean, East Africa, Asia, the South Pacific, and the Mediterranean, stopping in Bermuda and Jamaica between November 24-27, 1953. These souvenirs were purchased on Eleuthera Island, an archipelago located fifty miles east of Nassau, Bahamas in the Great Bahama Bank. While the Bahamas were nowhere near Elizabeth's tour route, the local tourist industry manufactured these kitschy mid-century souvenirs to commemorate the occasion. Elizabeth II did eventually visit the Bahamas proper in 1975, 1977, 1985, and 1994.


These doilies came from the Luray Museum of Luray, Virginia. This museum, started by town resident Mary "Mollie" Zeiler Zerkle (1845-1933), safeguarded artifacts of mostly local interest. According to family history, nineteen-year-old "Mollie" nursed Union soldiers after the 1864 Battle of New Market. She married Lemuel Zerkle, and the two lived in New Market, Virginia until 1890. That year, the family relocated to Luray, fourteen miles east across the Massanutten Mountain range, where Lemuel had secured a post as Superintendent of Luray Caverns. Local historian Daniel Vaughn reported that the museum operated between 1938-1960, after which point the collection was sold at auction.

Gene H. Baber of Fisherville, Virginia was an avid antique collector. His collection included everything from Civil War letters to epaulettes, from early frakturs to vintage wind-up toys.


Provenance: Estate of Gene H. Baber, Fishersville, Virginia; Collection of Mary "Mollie" Zeiler Zerkle and Lemuel Zerkle, Luray Museum, Luray, Virginia


WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE

 

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000