{"product_id":"the-duchess-of-bedford-mary-russell-country-life-magazine-portrait-april-19-1930","title":"The Duchess of Bedford, Mary Russell Country Life Magazine Portrait April 19 1930","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Duchess of Bedford, Mary Russell Country Life Magazine Portrait, Frontispiece, April 19 1930. LXVII No. 1735\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe featured frontispiece this week is a striking portrait of \u003cstrong\u003eMary Russell, Duchess of Bedford\u003c\/strong\u003e, widely known as the \u003cstrong\u003e“Flying Duchess”\u003c\/strong\u003e, standing beside her aircraft at a pivotal moment in aviation history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe Subject:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eMary du Caurroy Tribe Russell\u003c\/strong\u003e (1865–1937), Duchess of Bedford, an extraordinary pioneer of early aviation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe Scene:\u003c\/strong\u003e She is pictured with her \u003cstrong\u003eFokker F.VII monoplane, “The Spider”\u003c\/strong\u003e, at \u003cstrong\u003eLympne Aerodrome\u003c\/strong\u003e in Kent.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe Occasion:\u003c\/strong\u003e The photograph was taken on \u003cstrong\u003eApril 10, 1930\u003c\/strong\u003e, just prior to her departure on a record-breaking flight to \u003cstrong\u003eCape Town, South Africa\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe Achievement:\u003c\/strong\u003e Accompanied by pilot \u003cstrong\u003eCaptain Charles Barnard\u003c\/strong\u003e and mechanic \u003cstrong\u003eRobert Little\u003c\/strong\u003e, she completed the journey in just \u003cstrong\u003e10 days\u003c\/strong\u003e, setting a new benchmark in long-distance aviation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRemarkable Career:\u003c\/strong\u003e The Duchess only took up flying in her 60s, reportedly to help alleviate tinnitus, yet quickly became one of Britain’s most celebrated aviators.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWider Contributions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Beyond aviation, she was also an \u003cstrong\u003eornithologist\u003c\/strong\u003e and served as a \u003cstrong\u003eradiographer during World War I\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLegacy:\u003c\/strong\u003e Her adventurous life ended tragically in \u003cstrong\u003e1937\u003c\/strong\u003e, when she disappeared during a solo flight over the \u003cstrong\u003eNorth Sea\u003c\/strong\u003e at the age of 71.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an authentic original page from Country Life magazine, part of the iconic series often affectionately referred to as the “Girls in Pearls” portraits — elegant society images that captured a distinctive era of British publishing and portraiture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSize: Approximately 13.75 x 9 inches (35 x 23 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCondition: Very good for its age. As with all vintage magazine pages, light signs of handling or minor age-related blemishes may be present. Please review the large photo carefully for full condition details.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis original Country Life Magazine frontispiece portrait forms part of The Old Map Shop’s curated archive of society portraits published between 1897 and 2026.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Old Map Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52178460213541,"sku":"CL-2819","price":62.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1928\/5511\/files\/Mary-Russell-Duchess-of-Bedford-Country-Life-Frontispiece-1930.jpg?v=1775107619","url":"https:\/\/theoldmapshop.com\/en-gi\/products\/the-duchess-of-bedford-mary-russell-country-life-magazine-portrait-april-19-1930","provider":"The Old Map Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}