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1 Pound 1957, Bermuda

in Krause book Number: 20b
Years of issue: 01.05.1957
Edition: D/2 99999
Signatures: Assistant colonial treasurer: Mr. Ernest Frederick E. Lumsden, Colonial treasurer: Mr. William West Davidson
Serie: 1952 Issue
Specimen of: 20.10.1952
Material: Cotton fiber
Size (mm): 140 х 70
Printer: Bradbury, Wilkinson & Company Limited, New Malden

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1 Pound 1957

Description

Watermark:

watermarkWord "Bermuda" and Arabesque pattern.

The Arabesque used as a term in European art, including Byzantine art, is, on one definition, a decorative motif comprising a flowing and voluted formalistic acanthus composition. It is generally simpler than the Arabesque in Islamic art, and does not involve elements that cross over each other.

Avers:

1 Pound 1957

Photo by Dorothy Wilding, 26 February 1952, HM The Queen Elizabeth II

HM The Queen Elizabeth II.

The first official photographic sitting with the new Queen was granted to the society photographer Dorothy Wilding. It took place on 26 February 1952, just twenty days after the accession. A total of fifty-nine photographs were taken by Wilding, showing The Queen dressed in a variety of gowns designed by Norman Hartnell and wearing jewellery including the Diamond Diadem. The photographs taken during this sitting were the basis of The Queen’s image on postage stamps from 1953 until 1971, as well as providing the official portrait of The Queen which was sent to every British embassy throughout the world. (Royal collection trust)

Diadem

The Queen is wearing the George IV State Diadem. Made by Rundell, Bridge & Rundell (and likely designed by their designer, Philip Liebart) in 1820, the diadem features a set of 4 crosses pattée alternating with 4 bouquets of roses, thistles, and shamrocks. The motifs are set on a band of diamond scrollwork between two bands of pearls. Queen Alexandra had the diadem made smaller in 1902, reducing the top band of pearls from 86 to 81, and the bottom band from 94 to 88. The front cross is set with a 4 carat yellow diamond, and the piece features 1,333 diamonds in all. (Sartorial Splendor)

Necklace present from Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar

The necklace worn by The Queen, of diamond flowers and leaves, was a wedding present from Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar. The necklace was originally crafted in 1930s by Cartier. It was a wedding gift to Queen Elizabeth II, who was still a princess, on her wedding to Prince Philip from the Last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan in 1947. The Nizam of Hyderabad asked the Queen to choose two pieces from Cartier to mark her wedding, and she chose a tiara and a matching necklace based on an English rose.

The necklace was made by Cartier with 38 diamonds, with a diamond-encrusted snap. It has a detachable double-drop pendant, made of 13 emerald-cut diamonds and a pear-shaped drop, forms the pave-set center of the necklace. The design was based on English roses.

Pair of pearl drop earrings, circa 1947

Pair of pearl drop earrings, made circa 1947.

The pearls used to create these earrings were a wedding present to Princess Elizabeth in 1947 from the Sheikh of Bahrain. The diamonds used in the earrings use a variety of modern cuts. (A Royal Wedding 1947)

This variety of the portrait is distinguished by the heavy shading on Her Majesty's right cheek and the tilt of the head. (Peter Symes)

The Somerset BridgeOn left side is the Somerset Bridge.

It is a small bridge in Bermuda. Connecting Somerset Island with the mainland in the western parish of Sandys, Somerset Bridge is reputedly the smallest working drawbridge in the world.

The original bridge was built in 1620, and much of its structure remains, although the bridge was largely rebuilt in the mid XX century. The original bridge was cranked open by hand, whereas the current bridge consists of two cantilevered half-spans, separated by an 18-inch (46 cm.) gap bridged by a thick timber panel. The entire width of the drawbridge measures 22 inches (56 cm.). The panel is removed whenever a yacht wishes to pass beneath the bridge, allowing the unstayed mast to pass through the gap. A captain must wait for a passer-by to assist in opening the drawbridge.

Revers:

1 Pound 1957

The Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom is the official coat of arms of the British monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. These arms are used by the Queen in her official capacity as monarch of the United Kingdom, and are officially known as her Arms of Dominion. Variants of the Royal Arms are used by other members of the Royal Family; and by the British government in connection with the administration and government of the country. In Scotland, the Queen has a separate version of the Royal Arms, a variant of which is used by the Scotland Office.

The shield is quartered, depicting in the first and fourth quarters the three passant guardant lions of England, in the second, the rampant lion and double tressure Flory - counterflory of Scotland, and in the third, a harp for Ireland. The crest is a statant guardant lion wearing the imperial crown, himself on another representation of that crown. The Dexter supporter is a likewise crowned English lion and the sinister, a Scottish unicorn. According to legend a free unicorn was considered a very dangerous beast, therefore the heraldic unicorn is chained, as were both supporting unicorns in the Royal coat of arms of Scotland. In the greenery below, a thistle, Tudor Rose and shamrock are present, representing Scotland, England and Ireland respectively. The coat features both the motto of English monarchs - Dieu et mon droit (God and my right), and the motto of the Order of the Garter - Honi soit qui mal y pense (shame upon him who thinks evil of it) on a representation of the Garter behind the shield.

On the right and left sides are denominations in the pattern.

Comments:

Interesting fact:

Bermuda named after their discoverer, the Spanish explorer Juan Bermudez, who visited them in 1503. However, sharpen its focus on them the Spaniards did not. And in 1609 there appeared the English colonists. The reason for their appearance - a shipwreck. Officially Bermuda are ruled England from 1684.