To the Queen’s Private Apartment. Early Movable Lithograph Depicting Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in Domestic Scene
London: G. A. H. Dean & Co., Threadneedle Street, [ca. 1840s]. Single hand-colored lithographic sheet (31 × 21.3 cm / 11¾ × 8¾ inches).
Loose lithograph with dual flap mechanism; no pagination. Printed recto only.
A rare early movable lithograph issued under the imprint of G. A. H. Dean, dating from between 1838 and 1847, prior to the firm’s full rebranding as Dean & Son. The hand-colored image, titled To the Queen’s Private Apartment, features a finely rendered architectural façade with twin movable doors. When opened, the flaps reveal a detailed domestic tableau of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in a private sitting room, a format that anticipated Dean’s later movable children’s books.
Issued during Dean & Co.'s transitional period, this print exemplifies the firm’s experimentation with movable formats and narrative scene-reveals, marking a shift toward more interactive publishing. Lithographic prints of this type are increasingly scarce, particularly in this early format with dual flap mechanics.
Condition: Very good. Colors vibrant. Some slight edge wear and three short closed tears along the right edge, not extending to the flaps or interior scene. Flaps open cleanly. Toning and handling consistent with age.
Before Dean’s Movable Books: Early Flap Prints
Before Dean produced their now-iconic movable books, they issued a small number of movable prints, often marketed as novelty items. These loose-sheet lithographs, some with flap or tab elements, gradually vanished from production by the 1860s. Quite fragile and scarce, only a handful of these early works survive in institutional collections.
This example from that transitional period portrays Queen Victoria’s private chambers. When the doors are opened, a delightful family scene is revealed: Queen Victoria cradling a child while Prince Albert crouches on all fours as two older children engage him in play—one draping a flower garland around his neck as reins, the other brandishing a toy whip. Likely representing the royal children Victoria, Edward, and Alice, the print humanizes the monarchy in an intimate domestic setting.
Copies of this print can be found in the collections of the Yale Center for British Art and the Royal Collection Trust.Collector's Corner:
Dean & Co., initially known as Dean & Munday until 1838, and later as Dean & Son from 1847, were prominent producers of vibrant lithographs for both adults and children. While there are numerous ads for their books, their movable prints were less frequently advertised. Between 1838 and 1847, as Dean & Co., they developed their movable print production, a craft further advanced by Dean & Son later in the 19th century for children's books. By the 1860s, their focus shifted more towards children's movable books, reducing their production of standalone movable prints.
Other similar Movable Novelty Prints by Dean & Co.:
The Museum of Natural Curiosities (12½ × 10 inches): Depicts a man sitting on the back end of a horse-drawn cart. As the back panel is lowered, the cart swings open to unveil two tigers and a lion, sending the man tumbling. Sold for $2,400 at Potter & Potter Auctions in February 2023.
The Royal Railroad Carriage: Twin doors open to reveal Queen Victoria and Prince Albert with their children inside their royal train at Windsor, with Windsor Castle in the background.
The Royal Oak: A pull tab reveals six oval portraits of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, the Princess Royal, King Edward VII as Prince of Wales, Princess Alice, and Prince Alfred.
To the Queen’s Private Apartment: Twin doors open to reveal Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
A Peep at Windsor Terrace: Twin doors in a forest scene open to reveal children and a dog.
Prince Albert Driving His Favorites: The side of the carriage folds down to reveal his children riding within.
A different flap print by Dean:
Royal Aquatic Excursion (323 × 260 mm): Depicts the Royal barge gliding on the water, adorned with the Royal Standard, manned by a crew of ten rowers and a helmsman, with ships visible in the distance. The print features a flap that opens to reveal the cabin's interior, where Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, three children, and a nurse are illustrated.
References:
Wood, Sileas. "Moving Pictures: Nineteenth-Century British Mechanical Prints." Print Quarterly, vol. 34, no. 2, June 2017, pp. 162–176. Print Quarterly Publications. https://www.jstor.org/stable/45137227
Homans, Margaret. Royal Representations: Queen Victoria and British Culture, 1837–1876. University of Chicago Press, 1998.
Yale Center for British Art. https://britishart.yale.edu/
British Museum. "The Torn Hat..." https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1952-0403-2
Royal Collection Trust. "The Royal Oak." https://www.rct.uk/collection/605965/the-royal-oak
British Museum. "Biography of Dean & Son." https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG21257
National Portrait Gallery. "Prince Albert Driving His Favorites." https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw133139
References:
All books are returnable within 14 days of receipt if not delighted for any reason