I have so many books and magazines, I could open my own Library. As a matter of fact, I've told our neighbours that if the time comes when their kids need to do any kind of research on the British Royals or the Romanovs, not to even bother taking them into our nearest town and our Library. All they have to do is come over here and I'd be more than happy to provide them free rein of my Collection to help them out.
We are good friends of a couple who live in Northern New York state, but have a cabin up here. My parents also check their place on and off during the rest of the year when they're not up here. He's an antique dealer and the last time they came up for the Summer two years ago, he brought me up somewhere between 80 to 90 books, and that's a light amount compared to what they normally bring me. It's not that odd when they come, to have our entire Dining Room table covered in Royalty books *and* stacked four to five books high.
That's not even mentioning any china commeorative stuff he's found for me over the years. Or my Diana china doll he found me and I treasure as I've never seen "my Doll" anywhere else and I've looked believe me!!
Anyway...Between Phil and my own finds at Yard/Garage Sales and Christmas/Birthday Gifts from Family, I do have some rather special "special" pieces...
When our Chiropractor was house hunting for a place to set up both as a Weekend Clinic and a place to retire to, she found one place she just adored and ended up buying. The previous owner had lived there since the day it was built in the 20's and the only reason she was selling was because she had to go the Nursing Home. Okay then...When Sonja was cleaning things out in the basement, she discovered all these old newspapers. She started going through them, but when she found a certain set, she knew she'd found my Christmas present for that year.
They were both the then
Toronto Telegraph, now
The Toronto Star, and
The Sudbury Daily Star, which is now just
The Sudbury Star issues of The Queen's Coronation and in pristine condition. They are now kept in the heavy plastic bag/container my last fleece sheets set came in, in my Cedar Chest my late cousin built for me.
When I turned 18, my Aunt Robbie realized my passion for Royalty wasn't going to be a "teenage phase" and gave me a very special Birthday Present. Her Scrapbook she'd kept of the then TRH The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh's Visit to Canada and The Queen's Coronation. I was floored she was giving this to me, as she and my Uncle have three children of their own and I felt bad considering it is an Heirloom and should be going to one of my cousins. She told me they weren't interested in the Royals and it would more than likely be tossed one day if I didn't take it. So I said Thank you and it truly means so much to me she decided I'd be a worthy caretaker of it.
When my Bachelor Uncle Roy decided it was time for him to go into the Nursing Home and sell the Family Farm, there was an awful lot of stuff to have to go through and then decide what to do w/. My Paternal Grandmother, who I sadly never did meet, was a Royalty fan like the rest of us here and collected the odd China Commemorative. Well, there were two cup and saucer sets of hers found in perfect condition. My cousin Sandra, as the first Grandchild born in the family was given the one and I was given the other.
Mine is a Collectable in more ways than just one, as it marks the State Visit of The Queen to Canada to officially open The St. Lawrence Seaway. It's a Royal collectible, it's a Canadian Historic collectible, it's a Maritime Historic collectible...As I said, it really is a Collectible in more than one way.
) However, it means more to me as a Priceless Heirloom.
One of my many pieces marking a certain wedding at St. Paul's in 1981 is something that I *know* wasn't one of the official pieces, but it's so original and I love it. It's a cup and saucer duo, but it's the only China piece I've ever seen made for Charles and Diana's Wedding that has both The Bride and The Groom's respective Coats of Arms. Yes, I do know it's a diamond shape for a Woman, but as I don't know the actual way to refer to it, I'm going w/the term everyone knows.
) It has their names, titles, the date and where the Wedding's taking place on it in as well, but not their faces.
As I said, I've never seen anything else like it before or since, but I love it due to all of the heraldic emblems and just how unique it is.
Last for now, but not least in the slightest, is a piece I have that marks a Major Royal Event that never happened.
Where Phil found this for me, I have no idea!!! A few years ago, he found me a small cup, shot glass size I'd say, to Commemorate Edward VIII's Coronation. As I said, we all know that event never took place thanks in no small part to Wallis Simpson, so it really is one of those irreplacible pieces of my Collection.
Speaking of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor...Phil also found me the Catalogue to the Auction of HRH and HG's effects that took place after the Duchess' passing. Only...It's not "officially" mine as of yet, as Phil took it back down w/him to really study. As I said, he's an Antique Dealer and there were some things in the Catalogue Phil has come across over the years, but never knew what do pricewise w/them. Such as a Presentation Sword for instance. Anyway...I did get a really good look at it before it left the house and to say I was drooling over the pictures of HG's jewels would be a major understatement. ;o)
Anyway...Those are, shall we say, The Crown Jewels of my Collection. There will additions made to it in a week and a half. That's actually one of the good things about me being in Toronto the same time as William and Catherine's Wedding. I'll at least be in the perfect place to find something I like. Unlike around here where I'm literally in the middle of nowhere Rural Canada.
D ;o)
