Stevengraph of The Present Time

Stevengraph of “The Present Time” (STG 198). This “express train” exists in two variations, this being the LNWR Prince of Wales class engine (1911), with no driver leaning out of the cab. There are 6 carriages. It is excellently coloured and in lovely condition, and is unframed. The mount is unexpected. The material and physical execution of the mount is original, but the title is not. It is handwritten in fancy script, and is, of course, incorrect as the proper title is “The Present Time”. The original frame bears the label “Leveton & Sons, Est 1887, 11 Orford Place Norwich”. This company moved to this location in 1903. This silk is a C20th production, 1902 onwards. So the silk was probably sold mounted but untitled and then framed in Norfolk, and the title added. Since Stevens sold to Stationers (such as Carter) this would be a reasonable explanation. There is no trade label. It is quite a rare item being classed as 4* rarity in the Sprake/Darby reference.