Details

Photograph of HM Elizabeth II signed by Dorothy Wilding (possibly hand-painted bromide) from 1952. This is from the 'well-known' series of Wilding photographs taken in 1952 one of which was used to produce a set of British definitive stamps known as the 'Wilding issue' which were in use from 1952 to 1971. The Wildings were the first and only British stamps to feature graphite lines on the back, and the first to feature phosphor bands on the face – both aids to automation. The stamps were also the first British pictorial high value stamps and the first to include regional emblems. The stamps reproduced a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II taken during a photographic session on 26 February 1952 by Dorothy Wilding, who had been working at the Royal Court since 1937. Dorothy Wilding's photograph depicts The Queen wearing the State Diadem made for George IV in the 1820s, which was designed to be worn outside a Cap of Maintenance. This diadem was also worn by Queen Victoria on stamps such as the Penny Black. The original photograph was re-touched to bring the diadem further forward on The Queen's head. Dorothy Wilding's photographic archive is held by the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) and many of the photographs of the queen from this 1952 photographic session can be seen on the NPG's website including a hand-painted bromide that is identical to this photograph. The photograph in the IET collection is however much larger than that shown on the NPG website, and measures 46 x 58 cm. [Digital version available for archive purposes only - in copyright until 2046]