The
History of Everything Royal History
by
Alicia Carroll
British royal commemoratives
have been bought by the English out of love and loyalty for centuries.
Royal commemoratives started as far back as the 15th century with
a medal being produced for the Coronation of King Edward VI but
not until the 1800's and The Reign Queen Victoria did collecting
become the obsession it is today.
Mugs were issued
in the 1700's for the Coronation of King George II, the first
to have his likeness reproduced on china or ceramic followed by
the much hated King George IV who had a lavish Coronation and
ordered many pieces made.
In 1831 King William
IV, Queen Victoria's uncle had numerous items produced including
the first royal bust and jigsaw puzzles to be offered for sale
to the public.
Nothing previously
prepared manufactures or the royal court for the adulation Queen
Victoria would receive. Companies commissioned by the court were
kept busy day and night getting ready for her Coronation. Until
Princess Diana became the most photographed and famous person
in history, it was a Queen Victoria commemorative piece that was
most sought after and treasured, especially if it was a signed
or numbered item. A signed letter or photograph of Queen Victoria
can sell for upwards of $10,000.00.
Queen Victoria's
long reign saw a major increase in the population and a new breed
of manufacturing opened up with new materials and techniques being
used for mass marketing. After Victoria's reign the progress was
not to be restrained. Until the Coronation of King Edward VII,
the production of royal commemoratives was controlled by the Monarchy
or the Lord Chamberlain's office. No longer true, everyone rushed
to issue a new item. The new King's likeness was on everything
from match boxes to teapots missing nothing in between. Queen
Victoria's likeness even appeared on canned peaches and peach
crates. Jewelry and coins were fashioned after them and thus began
a whole new world for the royal collector.
In 1953 with the
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the entire world was enjoying
the post war years and prosperity. The motion picture industry
was at its zenith taking the movie goer to far away places full
of magical palaces filled with beautiful Princes and Princesses.
With the invention of television, a world many people had only
read about in history books was now in their living room. The
Coronation of Elizabeth II was the icing on the cake. Suddenly
a whole new world was fascinated with a beautiful, young Queen.
Having survived the horrors of WWII, the world was more than ready
ready for kings, queens and castles.
I have always been
fascinated with the pomp, pageantry and the fairy tale happenings
in far away places. Thus, my interest with the royal family came
full circle and my fascination truly took hold when Lady Diana
Spencer appeared in 1980.
Collecting royal
commemoratives has come full circle. The new collector can find
anything from a note pad to a bottle of unopened beer for any
member of the Royal Family. My own personal collection of royal
commemoratives had grown to such large proportions, I had three
and four of some items. At times, when purchasing at auction,
you must buy the entire lot, meaning groups of items. Books are
almost always sold in lots. Many times I have purchased upwards
of 100 books to get one or two rare editions needed for my collection.
Getting the idea
from my "dearest" friend and "royal partner"
Loyal Monarchist, Kelley Thornton, I decided to print a catalog
offering all items I had in duplicate.
Everything Royal
would not have happened without "Kelly"!
I foolishly advertised
my catalog in Majesty Magazine which I had yet to write or print.
The response was overwhelming. I had no choice but to print my
first catalog. A "mere" double spaced 16 pages. I had
no typewriter. A friend Jeanette Mani Thompson printed my first
issue.
I had a great deal
to learn about purchasing merchandise, advertising, printing,
packaging, shipping and not forgetting permits and licensing..
With only a 16 page catalog, I sold out with my first issue. I
had nothing remaining to offer. People continued writing for the
catalog. It was time to start shopping.
Living in a city
the size of Los Angeles with a large English population was a
great help. We have free antique trade papers. I advertised to
purchase any item relating to the English Royal Family.
Kelley and I scoured
Los Angeles antique shops, thrift shops, garage sale and flea
markets buying everything and anything relating to the British
Royal family. We also bought all related magazines on the market
with classifieds offering merchandise. After ordering everyone's
"so called" catalog which often was a 4-6 page, hand
written list, I decided to buy out my competition. My inventory
was growing but far to slow to keep up with the demand.
With the wedding
of HRH Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, the entire
world suddenly took interest and all members of the British Royal
family became household names. I was overwhelmed with orders for
anything pertaining not only to Charles and Diana but every ROYAL
family member!
My next step was
to draft my parents Fran and Elsie Mendenhall in Ohio whose bumper
sticker should read, I brake for garage sales . We started our
quest and the results were fantastic. The East coast has a large
British population. There are wonderful sources for items. With
help from my my parents making purchases, packing and shipping
to California my second catalog was growing!
The second issue
received far greater response than the first. I realized the cost
of printing and shipping was such I would have to charge a small
fee to cover the costs . I was now in business.
Everything Royal
was born. I "definitely" needed far more inventory to
keep up with the demands.
Deciding it was
time for a major change, visiting England was a must. I spent
three months shopping in buying for my next catalog . The English
have a swap meet called a car boot sale where everyone backs their
cars into an open field, open their trunks and the sale is on.
My yearly buying trips to England helped keep the catalog ever
changing and interesting.
A visit to England
is a must for any true royal collector or royal watcher. If you
are not a royal collector it will be a step back in time and history.
More than two decades
later, my last catalog was 400 pages. I could no longer offer
a catalog as the expense was far greater than the cost of printing
and shipping with many people buying it as a souvenir.
The warehouse was
overflowing. My own personal collection of handwritten letters,
signed cards, photographs, invitations, announcements, wedding
and funeral programs, various items having once belonged to a
member of the royal family or a gift given had grown immensely.
It was time to do a website.
The response to
Everything Royal on line was overwhelming.
The rest "as
they say" is history!
I recently, while
looking around eBay and saw my last catalog of 20 years ago offered
as
" A Royal Souvenir"
Alicia
Carroll
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