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Royal Ephemera Newsletter

Launched in the UK by Jim Hanson, Featuring his Extensive Collection of Rare Ephemera from Queen Victoria through
to Princess Diana

By Tracey Beaney

Well known amongst collectors of royal ephemera, Jim Hanson has a huge amount of knowledge of ephemera in general, but his interest lies mainly in the royal family. His collection of royal ephemera includes immaculate examples of menus, invitations, photographs, orders of service, and various documents commemorating royal events from the Victorian times to the present day. In order to share this unique collection with other royal enthusiasts, Jim has launched a bi-monthly newsletter, produced in conjunction with Robert Golden and Tracey Beaney, which has received glowing praise from UK collectors and US subscribers in particular.

Amongst Jim's collection and of topical interest is a dinner menu dated July 22, 1939 from Dartmouth Naval College. It was a very special dinner and marked the start of the longest relationship in the history of a British monarch, a marriage which celebrated 60 years on November 20 2007. The thirteen-year-old Princess Elizabeth had travelled to Dartmouth with her parents and was to meet Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. Similar to Victoria's instant attraction to Albert, Elizabeth did not forget Philip and married him eight years later. Jim talked about these items in an interview he gave last year to Radio Devon, marking the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

Among Jim's collection of modern royal ephemera is an invitation to the marriage of our Queen's parents, the Duke York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon on April 26 1923, an invitation to the coronation on May 12 1937 after they had become king and queen, and an invitation to Elizabeth's coronation when she became queen in 1953, besides letters from Prince Philip, Prince Charles and a handwritten note from Diana, Princess of Wales.
Edward VIII and the abdication feature strongly in his collection, and was the subject of the first newsletter, which includes an invitation to Mr and Mrs Ernest A Simpson to the Buckingham Palace summer garden party on July 21 1936 and a supper menu dated December 8 1936, five days after news of the abdication broke in the national press. Jim has affectionately named the supper "Edward's Last Supper".

The next issue of the newsletter is devoted to Queen Elizabeth and Jim feels this is the best issue so far! 

The newsletter has been very well received both at home and abroad, and comments such as those below from happy subscribers have been greatly appreciated by Jim:

"The newsletter is far beyond my expectations. It is a jewel and a treasure for my collection of English history and memorabilia. Again, thanks to each of you for your good work in publishing this truly unique newsletter. Well done!"
Mary Lindner, Minnesota, USA
 
"The impressive twenty page first issue of the Royal Ephemera Newsletter, compiled from the personal collection of the newsletter’s publisher, Jim Hanson, is probably the most comprehensive guide available of ephemera encompassing the very short reign of Edward VIII."

"....if this first issue is any indication, any royal collector will want to subscribe to this beautiful, colour illustrated bi-monthly newsletter."
Duke and Duchess of Windsor Society Quarterly

The Royal Ephemera Newsletter is published every two months and costs £55 per annum for six printed copies including postage to anywhere in world, or £30 per annum for the downloadable version. There is also a wealth of information online at www.royalephemera.com

More Information

To subscribe to the newsletter, log onto the website:
www.royalephemera.com

Or call Tracey Beaney on +44 (0)1404 813706