Auction #2 - June 2019
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/23/2019
The G26 Allen & Ginter World Sovereigns banner is one of 28 banners that Allen & Ginter crafted to be redemption pieces for their small card sets. The G26 banner is the companion piece for the N34 World's Sovereigns series. The card series pictures 50 of the Kings and Queens and leaders of sovereign nations in the late 1880's when the set was issued. The lithography on the card set and on this banner is unparalleled for the time. That the rich, deep colors have maintained their clarity these 130+ years is a testament to the consignor's care and the care of those before him.
An interesting note that the Governor General of Canada from the N34 set and pictured on this banner was Lord Frederick Stanley, the 16th Earl of Derby. More importantly, he was better known as the namesake for the Stanley Cup--given to the winner of the National Hockey League Champions since 1892. The Cup was originally donated by Lord Stanley and is the oldest sporting trophy in North America.
Other well-known sovereigns in the set include Alexander III, the Czar of Russia, U.S. President Grover Cleveland and others. Alfonso XIII, the King of Spain is pictured as the 2 year old baby that he was in 1888 on his card. He became King in 1886 upon the death of his father and his mother was Queen Regent until his enthronement at age 16 in 1902.
This G26 Allen & Ginter banner measures short at 14-1/2" wide x 28-1/4" tall. No metal strips at the top or the bottom. The American Card Catalog measurement for the banner shows 14-1/2" x 31-1/2", so the banner is likely some 3 inches short. Other than the length of the banner and some condition flaws--most of which are folds and creases, the main body of the poster remains intact, clear and has rich, deep colors. All 50 sovereigns from the set are ringed around a central figure which appears, from the artwork on the small cards, to be the Queen of Italy.
The piece has been matted with archival tape holding the top and bottom down and photographs of both the front and the back should clearly illustrate the condition issues with this piece. With careful framing, this could become a beautiful piece and great addition to a great nonsports collection. Display pieces of this magnitude are rarely seen--regardless of the condition.
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