King George V Dedicates His Book to Prime Minister Joseph Lyons,… - Australian History - Mossgreen Auctions (No longer trading)

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Description:

King George V Dedicates His Book to Prime Minister Joseph Lyons, The King's Jubilee Speeches Together With The Primate's Address In St. Paul's on Jubilee Day, May 6, 1935 and Congratulatory Address: By The Prime Minister, By Both Houses of Parliament, By The Brazilian Ambassador on Behalf of the Corps Diplomatique, and By Empire Representatives.' (Published by The Morning Post, London, 1935), Number 66 of 100 copies in this edition. In half leather binding, the spine with five raised bands, with silver cloth covered boards, silver endpapers, and all in excellent condition. Unique. With manuscript dedication by the king, 'For Prime Minister Lyons with grateful thanks for your faithful service to the Country & the Empire, from George R.I. April 8th 1935', Lyons and his wife, Enid, were in London for the Silver Jubilee celebrations. The book is accompanied by photocopies of the invitation for them to spend the night (8th April) at Windsor Castle, the Royal Household envelope in which the invitation was delivered at the Savoy Hotel and a letter from Enid to her daughter, Enid, on Windsor Castle letterhead (dated 9th April). Like around one fifth of his Australian countrymen, Joseph Lyons was devoutly Catholic and proudly of Irish heritage. He had led Labor's anti-conscription campaign in Tasmania during World War I. As prime minister, he travelled to London with wife Enid Lyons in 1935 for the Silver Jubilee celebrations of King George V and Queen Mary - a journey necessitating six months absence from Australia. Lyons faced anti-Catholic demonstrations in Edinburgh, visited his ancestral homeland of Ireland and had audiences with the Pope and Benito Mussolini in Rome.

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Category:

Memorabilia: Commemorative - Royalty