Colnaghi's Patriotic Fund Almanac for 1855.

£550 · Offered by Maggs Bros Ltd

A lavishly historiated almanac produced to raise funds for The Royal Patriotic Fund, a charity established in October 1854 by Queen Victoria for the support of widows and orphans of men lost in the line of duty during the Crimean War. The almanac calendar occupies the centre of the print, and includes key moments in the conflict to date, including the Battle of Inkerman and the bombing of Sebastopol, as well as other relevant military events from the region. A ribbon banner above gives the name of the four major battles to date: Balaklava, Alma, Inkerman, and Sebastopol. This sits within a wide historiated boarder of highly sentimentalised scenes. On one side is a female personification of War, dark-haired with sword raised, leaning on a cannon, an angel begging mercy and the raging battlefield beneath. On the other, Peace looks down, olive branch in hand, over the joyful reunion of a returning soldier with his family. In the lower margin, a widow and child weep, as her husband lies dead beneath a crescent moon symbolising the east. The Royal Patriotic Fund was established ‘By Her Majesty’s Command’ in October 1854 with Prince Albert as its President. Its purpose was to coordinate the collection and distribution of money donated by the public for the widows and orphans of men killed during the war. Commissioners were appointed across the country, and aid was distributed according to the needs of each family. Lady Cadogan also had at least one of the original illustrations in

• Binding: Hardcover

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