Military Habit of King Edward VI in 1552, Sword and Shield, Jefferys Plate, 1757

This is an original antique copper engraving with hand coloring, lettered in script "Military Habit of King Edward VI. in 1552." The young king raises a long sword in his right hand, on the viewer's left, and carries a shield painted with the royal arms of England, quartering the lions with the fleurs de lis, on his left. He wears a brimmed hat with a small crown, a white ruff, a gilt breastplate with a chain and pendant, full brown trunk hose patterned in damask, and yellow stockings. A crimson cloak lined with fur falls behind him, and his empty scabbard hangs at his side.

The French caption beneath reads "Habits militaires du Roi Edward VI.", meaning military dress of King Edward VI; the French caption spells the name Edward. The plate number 198 is engraved at lower right, and no artist or engraver is named.

This is a plate from Volume II of A Collection of the Dresses of Different Nations, Antient and Modern, issued in London in 1757 by Thomas Jefferys, Geographer to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, from his premises in the Strand. Its title page credits the designs to Holbein, Vandyke, Hollar and others, and a French title page, Recueil des Habillements de Différentes Nations, accompanies the English one, so each figure is captioned in both languages. Edward VI reigned from 1547 to 1553. The date 1552 refers to the costume shown, the year before his death at the age of fifteen.

The figure stands alone on the sheet with ample margins, so it frames easily and sits comfortably beside other costume plates.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.