The Late Earl of Beaconsfield

Printed at bottom of card-mount:-
WOVEN IN PURE SILK BY T. STEVENS, COVENTRY. 

The Late Earl of Beaconsfield. 

silk:
cm deep by cm wide

by Godden:
The Earl of Beaconsfield was the title granted to Benjamin Disraeli in 1876. This famous British politician was born in London on 21 December 1804, and was Prime Minister in 1868 and from 1874 to 1880. He died on 19 April 1881.

THE LATE EARL OF BEACONSFIELD was first mentioned on label 21+2 and was one of the first two Stevens portrait silks issued. Three different variations were made, so88, this silk, and the rare so96.

In the first version, so88, the subject faces half left, and the portrait lacks the spray of flowers seen below it in later versions.

This second version, above, differs only from the earlier version in that a spray of flowers appears placed across the jacket. Late examples on a leather-textured card-mount often lack the printed title. Some examples of about 1891 have the D1 type mount with barbed lettering.

Other comments:
From a paper envelope used to post the original pictures and portraits, it is confirmed the flowers are Primroses.