A Collection of Memorial Cards by [Funeralia]

Various: Various c. 100 memorial cards, including three framed and glazed, dated mainly between 1860 and 1910. Designs include several embossed 'pierced lace' designs, through to later printed and chromolithographic cards. Included amongst many others is a remembrance card for Prince Albert (1861), a funeral ticket for the Duchess of Norfolk (1877) and an attractive folding card in its original black bordered envelope (1907). "The memorial card relied for much of its appeal on the austere extravagance of blind embossing. The process produced an uncoloured relief image of some delicacy ... exploited here for its portrayal of sepultural and monumental images. Tombs, funerary urns, angels and mourning figures appeared as though in marble low-relief ... Embossed cards were also available as pierced 'lace' designs, the low-relief effect being enhanced by removal of the background ... In a further elaboration, cards might be mounted on larger 'frame' cards. These were similarly treated with low-relief and lace effect and were designed to be mounted on a black background for glazing and framing ... In the final decades of the 19th century and on into the 20th century the most common form of mourning card was chromolithographed (usually in a range of grey or sepia colours and with a black border) for overprinting by the local printer" (Rickards - The Encyclopedia of Ephemera, page 157). First Edition. Disbound. Very Good. Memorial Card.