“I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong. “
--H.M. Queen Elizabeth II, 1953
By 1977, twenty-five years into her long reign, Queen Elizabeth II joined Britain in celebrating her Silver Jubilee. At her coronation in 1953, Elizabeth declared her dedication to her people, and has not wavered since. She has always been realistic about her position in the United Kingdom, also stating at her coronation, “I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else - I can give my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.” And, so she had. While the Queen may have her detractors and while her popularity may rise and fall, few can debate her devotion to her people and her kingdom.
This cup was produced in 1977 as a souvenir of the Silver Jubilee. It’s unusual inasmuch as it’s a two-handled cup. These are rather difficult to come by, and I was glad to find it. I’ve only otherwise seen two-handled cups of this nature in museums, so it was quite a treat to find it.
The cup features a transfer-printed portrait of the Queen in a circle surrounded by the Royal animal attendants and surmounted by the crown. Curiously, the reverse is specific to the town of Bovey Tracey. Bovey Tracey is a small town in Devon on the edge of Dartmoor, near the market town of Moretonhampstead, which advertises itself as, "The Gateway to the Moor.” Natives simply refer to the town as "Bovey" (pronounced "Buvvy").
In the twentieth century (more often, but sometimes before), Royal souvenirs were occasionally produced with specific towns, cities or regions emblazoned on the reverse. This served not only to appeal to local consumers, but to reinforce the solidarity of the commonwealth on special occasions.
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