Then came the issue of May 30, 1953, the
Coronation Week Double Number
(Appendix List No. 148) which describes
with more immediacy the coming ceremony and has illustrated articles on
such items as the Golden State Coach, the Great Orders of Knighthood,
the Queen s Beasts, invitation cards, the decorations, the bearers of
the regalia, coronation medals and vestments and those royal or noble
personages who would be participating in the ceremony.
The cover has a superb heraldic decoration with the Royal Arms in rich
colour. It is based on the Cloth of State which hangs behind the Throne
in the Queen’s Robing Room at the Palace of Westminster. The roses,
thistles and shamrocks, floral emblems of England, Scotland and Ireland
respectively, are used with admirable effect in the background and beneath
the ribbon bearing the Royal Motto: “Dieu et Mon Droit”. The
background colour is deep crimson and the heraldic design is in gold,
white, blue and pink.
This is issue number 5954, vol. 222, pages 853-900, measuring 37 x 26
cm. and priced at four shillings.