Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1832 - 1843 (Creation)
Level of description
Series
Extent and medium
1 album, 130 leaves, paper
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Van de Weyer served as Belgium’s Prime minister from July 1845 to March 1846. However, he lived for the majority of his life in London (17 Fitzroy Square, 50 Portland Place) and Windsor (New Lodge), and held the office of Belgian Minister at the Court of St. James’s under Queen Victoria, an ambassadorial role. Van de Weyer was close friends with Lord Palmerston. In addition to being a member of the Roxburghe Club, Van de Weyer was a founder member of the Philobiblon Society, the Vice President of the London Library, a Member of the Société des Bibliophiles de Belgique and the Head of the Royal Library of Brussels.
Pierre Henri Laurent said of Van de Weyer: 'His manners, taste, and savoir-faire brought him into the vital center of the intellectual, diplomatic, and financial communities. His home became the meeting place of writers, artists, and scientists’.
Archival history
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This album chiefly contains the engraved portraits and autographs of notable diplomats in the court of Queen Victoria, and others of Sylvain Van de Weyer's acquaintance. Many of the items are undated, therefore the date range of the album is taken from items which can be dated to a specific year.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
- French
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Album binding description: 19th century autograph album, Quarter-bound in red leather over cloth with gilt lettering on upper board: “PORTRAITS AND AUTOGRAPH LETTERS”. Five raised bands on spine. Armorial bookplate on upper pastedown: “Victor Bates Van de Weyer”.