Mountbatten of Burma. A large, signed, double portrait of the Lord & lasy Mounbatten of Burma in a presentation frame

The 11½ x 9 ins. portrait is by the society photographer Kinsey, signed in the bottom margin and also titled in the centre of the margin A Souvenir of India 15.7.1948 with the personal signatures beneath the figures Dickie and Edwina. Lord Mountbatten wears the mantle, chain, neck badge and breast star of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, of which he was Grand Master whilst he was Viceroy of India. Lady Mountbatten wears the Imperial Order of the Star of India which was only awarded to a very female of Royal and Princely families and and those of Viceroys and Governors. The date on the phtograph is the month after Mountbatten’s term as the first Governor General of the newly independent Dominion of India ended in June 1948. The Mountabatten’s nickname Dickie suggests this was presented to a member of the Royal Fmily or a very close friend. The vellum coloured frame carries the badge beneath an earl’s coronet. The glass is missing although the frame is sound. The\r is some unfortunate staining, possibly from water, which runs down the ypper right corner of frame and photograph. I have made no effort to try to clean this as I don’t feel sufficiently skilled but I guess it could be improved.

I have had this item in my private collectio for at least25 years and cannot now remember where I acquired it but I no longer have the space to accommodate it.