The London & York Royal Mail Coach 1879

"The London & York Royal Mail Coach" is an 1879 embroidery by Thomas Stevens. The piece depicts a meticulously crafted, detailed scene of a royal mail coach, pulled by four horses, with passengers and a driver. This work is an example of the Victorian fascination with transportation and the growing importance of the postal service. The use of embroidery, a traditional craft, to depict a modern subject is a unique blend of the old and new, making this work a captivating example of 19th-century British art. The Art Institute of Chicago houses this work, which offers a glimpse into the history of transportation and communication in the 19th century.