Description
British Historical Medals. Volume II. The Reign of Queen Victoria, 1837-1901. 1980, Reprinted 2007. 516 pages, illustrated. Casebound, jacket.
Laurence Brown’s second volume, covering the reign of Queen Victoria, explores another rich period in the history of Britain and of the medals which record it. The reign of Queen Victoria witnessed wars, considerable advances in learning, science and the arts, and a rapidly changing way of life for the nation as a whole. A useful introduction outlines the historical background, and the major events and developments of Victoria’s reign and additional biographical and historical footnotes to the medals are given throughout the catalogue, bringing much previously unpublished information to light and adding considerably to the interest and use of the catalogue. Nearly 2000 medals are listed in chronological order, giving full details of subject, style and designer, dimensions, metals in which the medal was made, rarity, bibliographical references and present locations in major collections. Detailed indices of people, events, inscription, designers etc., are also included. This long awaited work is the only comprehensive catalogue of Victorian medals and is a mine of information, not only for numismatists, but also for anyone interested in Britain’s industrial and political history, military and naval events or the arts and sciences in Victorian England.
