QUEEN VICTORIA (GREAT BRITAIN) - PATENT SIGNED 08/15/1843 CO-SIGNED BY: SIR JAMES (2ND BARONET) GRAHAM - HFSID 46941

QUEEN VICTORIA
Royal patent for the invention of improved wire ropes, ship blocks and dead eyes.
Partly Printed DS: "Victoria Reg[ina]" as Queen of England in brown ink. 3 pages, 7¾x12½. St. James Court, London, England. 1843 August 15. Countersigned: "Jas. Graham" as Home Secretary. In part: "Whereas William Malins of Greenwich in the County of Kent Gentleman and Andrew Smith of Mill Wall Poplar Engineer have by their Petition humbly represented unto Us that they have invented 'An Improvement in the manufacture of Wire Ropes and in the manufacture of Ships Blocks and dead Eyes' That they are the first and true Inventors thereof, and that the said Invention hath never been practiced or used by another Person or Persons whomsoever to their knowledge or belief...". Dead eyes" are rounded wood blocks that are encircled by ropes or iron bands and pierced with holes to receive the lanyard. Despite the impressive size of his own family, with the death of King George III, the crown passed through his children in quick succession, first to his eldest son George IV (1820-1830), than to his third son William IV (1830-1837), and eventually to one of his more unlikely heirs, his granddaughter by his fourth son, Princess Victoria. Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and the Empress of India (1819-1901) ascended the throne at the young age of 18, beginning the longest reign in British history and ruling over a time soon to be known as the Victorian Era. This time period was remembered for its industrial, cultural, political, scientific and military change within the United Kingdom with massive growth of the British Empire. More of a national icon rather than a direct political power, Victoria's name was synonymous with strict standards of personal morality. Her great affection for her husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, remains a renowned love story in her history; they had nine children together, all married into royal and noble families across the continent, tying them together and earning her the nickname "Grandmother of Europe". Her reign lasted sixty-three years and seven months, and with her death so ended the House of Hanover in the British monarchy, and her legacy of her detailed correspondence and journals have displayed her previously unknown political straight-talking which was emotional, obstinate, and honest. SIR JAMES GRAHAM, 2nd Baronet (1792-1861),was first Lord of the Admiralty from 1830-1834 and 1852-1855 and Home Secretary from 1841-1846. Folds, vertical fold touches the "a" in Victoria. Lightly creased. Some separations at blank horizontal folds up to 1½-inch in length. Mid vertical fold shows 3-inch separation in blank area. Slightly soiled, slightly nicked edges. Overall, in fine condition.