THE TRAVELLER DUCHESS AOSTA (Hélène d'Orléans, 1871-1951, daughter of Philippe (VII), Comte de Paris, wife, 1895, of Emanuele Filiberto, 1869-1931, 2nd Duke of Aosta)

Fine Signed, Inscribed and Dated Portrait Photograph, by G. Buffon of Turin, showing her three quarter length in profile, arms folded, strongly lit from the left, wearing a light travel dress, tie and wide brimmed tropical hat, with a thoughtful but contented look, inscribed by her in French, "To Mr. J. Chaytor", Charles John Chaytor, of the Nigerian Civil Service, "in memory of our travels in Nigeria ... Gaya 12th March - Kano 5th April 1922", (both in northern Nigeria), no place, circa a little silvered, touching the right hand side of the image, but the main strongly lit portion is unaffected

Hélène's great love had been Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence. Both Queen Victoria and the Princess of Wales were in favour, but her father and Leo XIII would not consent to her becoming an Anglican.
After her marriage, Hélène took to travelling and writing ('Voyages d'Afrique', 1913, 'Vers le soleil qui se lève', 1916). During WWI she became Inspector General of Red Cross Nurses. Her son Amedeo, later 3rd Duke, rebelled against formality and after the war joined his uncle Luigi, Duke of Abruzzi, in Somalia in schemes of improvement. Sharing his mother's interest, he crossed Africa to the Congo. Hélène continued travelling and writing, with 'Vie errante' (1921) and 'Attraverso il Sahara' (1935).

Item Date:  1922

Stock No:  55775      £875

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