A State Elephant of Udaipur Country Life Magazine Portrait June 21 1930

A State Elephant of Udaipur Country Life Magazine Portrait, Frontispiece, June 21 1930. LXVII No. 1744

The featured frontispiece this week is titled “A State Elephant of Udaipur”, a striking image capturing the grandeur of royal India.

• The Subject: A richly caparisoned state elephant from Udaipur, Rajasthan, traditionally used in royal processions and ceremonial occasions, symbolising prestige and authority.
• Cultural Context: Such elephants were an integral part of princely state pageantry, often adorned with elaborate textiles and ornaments for official events.
• The Photographer: The photograph was taken by H.R.H. Princess Arthur of Connaught (Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife), a granddaughter of King Edward VII.
• Royal Background: Princess Arthur of Connaught was closely connected to the British Royal Family and accompanied her husband, Prince Arthur of Connaught, during his official duties, including time spent in India.

This 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.

Size: Approximately 13.75 x 9 inches (35 x 23 cm)

Condition: 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.

This original Country Life Magazine frontispiece portrait forms part of The Old Map Shop’s curated archive of society portraits published between 1897 and 2026.