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Identification

J.E. Mayall Carte-de-Visite (CDV) of Queen Victoria and Family in Mourning

Photo reference

1 uploaded photo

Overview

The item is a carte-de-visite featuring an oval albumen print. The mount bears the clear printed imprint 'MAYALL. London. ' and 'Entd. Stationers' Hall. ', confirming the photographer as John Jabez Edwin Mayall.

Story

John Jabez Edwin Mayall was a pioneering British photographer who took some of the most famous early photographs of Queen Victoria and the Royal Family. This specific image, depicting the Queen in mourning attire beside a bust of Prince Albert, was taken in 1862 shortly after the Prince Consort's death in December 1861, and became one of the defining images of the Victorian era. The market for Victorian royal cartes-de-visite is steady but highly saturated.

Maker / Origin

J.E. Mayall

Condition & Value

The visible front of the carte-de-visite shows the expected oval albumen print on period card stock with the Mayall imprint. Value in early photography is highly dependent on the crispness of the print, the absence of fading or 'silvering' in the dark areas, and the physical integrity of the mount.

Full Research

See what it's actually worth.

Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

Market Analysis

The market for Victorian royal cartes-de-visite is steady but highly saturated. Following Prince Albert's death, millions of these mourning portraits were sold, popularizing the CDV format in Britain. Today, buyers are typically royal memorabilia collectors or early photography enthusiasts. Because supply is plentiful, prices remain accessible, with premiums reserved only for exceptionally rare poses, pristine condition, or significant period inscriptions.

Value Drivers

▲ Clear J. E. Mayall studio imprint confirms the maker and historical significance.

▲ Highly recognizable historical subject (Queen Victoria in mourning, 1862) ensures steady collector demand.

▲ Verified auction sales of identical single CDVs consistently clear the $35-$50 floor.

Concerns

▼ Unverified verso — a missing studio backmark or presence of severe glue residue/damage could discount the value.

▼ Mass production — millions of these mourning CDVs were printed, capping the ceiling for standard, unsigned copies.

▼ Unverified surface condition — any fading, silvering, or foxing on the albumen print would push the value to the low end.

Best Venue

Given the $35-$75 value range, this item is best suited for direct-to-consumer online platforms like eBay or Etsy rather than a premier auction house. List with clear, high-resolution scans of both the front and back, using keywords like 'J. E. Mayall', 'Queen Victoria Mourning', '1862', and 'Albumen CDV'.

Upside Potential

If the unverified verso reveals a rare period inscription, a specific early studio address variant, or pristine condition, the item could push toward the $75-$100 collector premium tier.

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Also found — market-range context

Related comps outside the valuation band· 7 comps

Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.

  • Leski Auctions· 2026-06-28
    MAHARAJA SIR DULEEP SINGH: Circa 1864 carte-de-visite of the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, and close confidante of Queen Victoria; produced by Mayall of 224 Regent Street, London.
    Depicts Maharaja Duleep Singh, not Queen Victoria.
    $200
  • eBay
    CDV Photo by Mayall of London Princess & Bishop 1860s Royalty Celebrity Priest
    Depicts a Princess and Bishop, not Queen Victoria.
    $92
  • eBay
    Antique CDV Photo Woman Mayall London Brighton c1860s Victorian Portrait
    Depicts an unknown woman, not Queen Victoria.
    $55
  • eBay
    Vintage CDV Queen Alexandra of Great Britain Mayall Photo
    Depicts Queen Alexandra, not Queen Victoria.
    $23
  • faustinosdad
    Vintage CDV Alexandra of Denmark Princess of Wales Queen of England Mayall Photo
    Depicts Queen Alexandra, not Queen Victoria.
    $20
  • Andrew Smith & Son· 2024-09-25
    John Jabez Edwin Paisley Mayall (1813-1901) and others - an album of carte de visite portraits of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and the Royal Family
    Sale on record but hammer price not published.
    No price
  • Chiswick Auctions· 2020-10-28
    John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1831 - 1901) and Henry Hering (1814-1893) CARTES DES VISITE (2), c. 1860s, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
    Sale on record but hammer price not published.
    No price