VICTORIA: (1819-1901)

VICTORIA: (1819-1901) Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1837-1901. A fine vintage signed 7.5 x 11.5 photograph showing the monarch seated at a writing desk in a full-length contemplative profile pose wearing a dark mourning dress and shawl and her characteristic long white widow's veil, gently resting her chin upon one hand as she reads the correspondence before her. A framed portrait of her late husband Prince Albert is prominently displayed on the desk alongside several smaller personal objects. Photograph by W. & D. Downey (uncredited), apparently from a sitting of c.1878, and one of the larger format portraits signed by the Queen and usually gifted to close relatives. Signed (´ Victoria R.I.´) by the Queen in bold dark fountain pen ink to a lighter area at the head of the image and dated 1895 in her hand. Some very light, minor age wear and very minimal signs of water staining to the lower part of the image, about VG