Bidspirit auction | An Early 20th Century Kate

An Early 20th Century Kate Valentine Ness Sketchbook and Scrapbook - An early 20th-century landscape-format personal sketchbook and scrapbook owned by Kate Valentine Ness. The volume is bound in tan cloth and was manufactured in England by Rowney & Co. It contains heavy paper leaves housing a mixture of original watercolor paintings and pencil drawings. The book also functions as a scrapbook, incorporating pasted-in black-and-white photographs and loose ephemera including a handwritten personal note and a printed illustration. Original artworks include watercolor landscapes of Kew and Hampton Court, floral studies, and animal portraits. Pencil sketches feature several female portraits and a study of Greta Garbo. Inscriptions on the cover and flyleaf identify the owner and include dates ranging from 1916 to 1937. Works within are signed with initials K.V.N. or the name Valentine, with one landscape bearing the signature of Ken Fisher. This the private sketchbook of Kate Valentine Ness.  Amongst other things it includes a card from Nobel Laurete John Galsworthy, lots of original sketches and watercolours and an original photograph taken at Balmoral Castle in September 1934 announcing the engagement of Prince George, Duke of Kent to Princess Marina of Greece & Denmark.  It includes,   • Princes Marina of Greece & Denmark • Prince Nicholas of Greece & Denmark (her father) • Queen Mary • Prince George, Duke of Kent • Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia (her mother) • King George V The photo was taken and printed by J & J Bisset in Ballater.  Princess Marina lost her husband in 1942 and she went on to continue in public service, becoming the First Female President of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club at Wimbledon.