Samuel Henry Alken (British, 1810-1894) Royal Mail coach in summer; Royal Mail coach in winter a pair, both signed 'ALKEN' (lower left) oil on panel each 17 x 28cm (6 11/16 x 11in). (2) Footnotes: Samuel Henry Alken was born into a distinguished family of artists. Originally named Henry Gordon Samuel Alken, he adopted the name Samuel Henry Alken to distinguish himself from his father, with whom he trained and developed his skills in sporting and equestrian subjects. Alken specialised in hunting scenes and racing subjects, most notably multiple depictions of the Derby, as well as equestrian portraits and coaching scenes. He achieved considerable success during his lifetime, attracting patrons from across the country. By 1851, Alken was residing in the Strand, London. The following year, he collaborated with George Augustus Sala on an ambitious aquatint depicting the funeral procession of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. Completed in 1853, this monumental work spanned twenty-eight sheets, measuring an extraordinary 13.5 by 2072 cm. A connoisseur of coaches and carriages, he captured an era in which skilled coach driving conferred considerable social prestige, comparable to the status of high-performance car driving today. The mail coach system, introduced in 1784 to replace the vulnerable post boys, became a symbol of speed and national efficiency by the early nineteenth century. These vehicles bore a distinctive maroon and black livery, adorned with the Royal Arms and the insignia of the Orders of Knighthood. Prior to the introduction of the Penny Post in 1840, postal services were expensive and largely limited to the affluent. At their peak, Royal Mail coaches could reach speeds of twelve miles per hour, with teams of horses changed in under two minutes. Their punctuality was such that villagers could set their clocks by the mail's arrival, and letters were often thrown from moving coaches. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing