Royalty Princess Beatrice Birthday Book daughter of Queen Victoria one of the most sumptuous productions of Victorian era printing, signed and dedicated by her to Sir John McNeill and dated Christmas 1882, on inside cover and with further signature of Beatrice against her own birthday of April 14th, in Red morocco binding featuring Beatrice’s Royal cipher to front cover, binding a little rubbed and spine slightly cracked, but interior contents appear in good condition throughout. Note: Because of the Royal connection, the book was given a spectacular treatment by the Royal printers, with fine illustrations of flowers to accompany every month of the year. Sir John McNeill (1795-1883) was a Scottish surgeon and diplomat, who was a co-founder of the Highland and Island Emigration Society, which was largely behind the Highland Clearances in the 1850s. He was also co-author of the McNeill-Tulloch enquiry into the Crimean War, which sharply criticised Lord Raglan’s personal staff.