Commemorative State Banquet Menu and Musical Presentation Program. Royal Visit to Niagara Falls, June 7, 1939

Published by [Privately Printed for the General Brock Hotel], Springfield, MA / Niagara Falls, ON, 1939

  • First Edition
  • Used
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Seller: Blind-Horse-Books (ABAA), DeLand, FL, U.S.A.Blind-Horse-Books (ABAA)

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Condition: Used - Fine

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Item description from seller

A LUXURY PRESENTATION CREATED FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT ROYAL VISIT OF THE INTERWAR YEARS - PRINTED FOR THOSE WHO SAT AT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STATE DINNERS OF 1939 A premier ceremonial hospitality presentation piece produced for the landmark 1939 Royal Tour. Large quarto (9×12 inches). Hand-assembled and cord-tied with twisted silk cord and tassels. Printed via letterpress on heavy, cream-toned deckle-edge handmade paper. Features tipped-in photographic plates including the General Brock Monument and a winter vista of Niagara Falls from the Rainbow Room. CONDITION: Fine. An exceptional survival, notably crisp with minimal handling wear. The silk cord and tassels remain vibrant and intact. Presentation Envelop present with modest handling. KEY FEATURES- A BANQUET BEFORE WAR +++ The Occasion: The official reception of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at the General Brock Hotel during the first visit by a reigning British monarch to North America. +++ Diplomatic Gastronomy: A high-level menu featuring Heart of Artichoke and Caviar, Lake Superior Whitefish, and Vanilla Mousse Royale, accompanied by a sophisticated selection of champagnes and wines. +++ Musical Program: Orchestrated by Luigi Romanelli, featuring a poignant mix of 'Canadian Potpourri,' Scottish bagpipes, and contemporary selections by Noel Coward. +++ The 'Tipped-In' Aesthetic: The use of high-quality photographic plates and hand-tied silk binding elevates this from a mere menu to a commemorative book-arts object. SCHOLARLY FEATURES -Diplomacy on the Eve of War +++ Socio-Political Context: The 1939 Royal Tour was a masterstroke of soft power. Occurring just months before the outbreak of World War II, the tour was designed to solidify Commonwealth unity and ensure North American support for the coming conflict. This banquet at the General Brock-overlooking the American border-served as a visual and cultural anchor for that diplomatic mission. +++ Exclusivity & Provenance: Unlike mass-produced souvenirs of the tour, these cord-tied booklets were produced in extremely limited numbers for the Royal party, high-ranking government officials, and invited dignitaries. They were never intended for public distribution, making surviving copies in "Fine" condition remarkably scarce. +++ Hotel History: The General Brock Hotel, a masterpiece of Canadian hospitality, used this event to cement its status as the premier luxury venue of the Niagara frontier. The inclusion of the "Winter Niagara Falls" plate from the Rainbow Room highlights the hotel's strategic use of its iconic views to impress the Royal guests. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE -Hospitality in the Service of Diplomacy This program represents a 'final exhale' of Edwardian-style pomp before the austerity of the 1940s. The typography and material choices (deckle-edge rag paper and silk tassels) reflect a deliberate attempt by the Canadian hosts to match the grandeur of the British Court. As a primary source document, it captures the intersection of Canadian nationalism (typified by the General Brock Monument and local cuisine) and unwavering Imperial loyalty. SUBJECTS: Royal Memorabilia, Canadian History, Gastronomy & Menus, 1939 Royal Tour, Niagara Falls, Ephemera, Graphic Design, Letterpress Printing. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: Noted in regional Niagara hospitality archives; similar copies held in the Library and Archives Canada Royal Tour collections.…

Seller Inventory # 21708

Bibliographic details

Title
Commemorative State Banquet Menu and Musical Presentation Program. Royal Visit to Niagara Falls, June 7, 1939
Author
[George VI & Queen Elizabeth]
Publisher
[Privately Printed for the General Brock Hotel], Springfield, MA / Niagara Falls, ON
Publication year
1939
Condition
Fine
Dust jacket
Very Good
Edition
First Edition.
Item weight
2 pounds
Seller catalogs
EPHEMERA & POPULAR CULTURE, FINE PRESS and BINDINGS

Blind-Horse-Books (ABAA)

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Blind Horse Books is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America (ABAA) and adheres to its Code of Ethics. We specialize in travel, exploration, fine press, and documentary material, with particular emphasis on printed ephemera, maps, photographic archives, and institutional publications from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Our inventory regularly includes material appropriate for academic, library, and museum collections. We work carefully with provenance, condition, and bibliographic accuracy, and stand fully behind all descriptions and attributions. Items are selected with long-term research and collecting value in mind. Blind Horse Books is operated by Richard and Dottie Oates and based in DeLand, Florida. We have been active in the antiquarian book trade since 1999 and are members of the ABAA, FABA, IOBA, and the Ephemera Society of America. Building Your Great Collection, One Fine Book at a Time. …

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Blind-Horse-Books (ABAA)

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