Margery Allingham

by Howard Coster
vintage print, 1936
9 1/2 in. x 7 1/4 in. (240 mm x 184 mm)
Given by the estate of Howard Coster, 1959
Photographs Collection
NPG x2396

Sitterback to top

Margery Louise Allingham (1904-1966), Crime writer and novelist. Sitter in 48 portraits.

Artistback to top

Howard Coster (1885-1959), Photographer. Artist or producer associated with 9349 portraits, Sitter in 5 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This was the first image of Allingham to enter the National Portrait Gallery collection in 1959 on the death of the photographer Howard Coster. Nine other poses from this sitting were acquired in 1974 when Coster's negative collection was transferred from the Central Office of Information. Francis Goodman's surviving archive was bequeathed to the gallery on his death in 1989.

Linked publicationsback to top

Pepper, Terence; Strong, Arthur, Howard Coster's Celebrity Portraits, 1985 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 28 June - 8 September 1985), p. 31

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Women Writers (9 December 2006 - 17 June 2007)
Margery Allingham (27 May 2004 - 6 February 2005)

Events of 1936back to top

Current affairs

Following the death of his father George V, Edward succeeds to the throne as King Edward VIII, but chooses to abdicate in order to marry the American divorcee, Wallis Simpson. Edward was the only monarch every to voluntarily relinquish the throne.

Art and science

The Spitfire, designed by Reginald Mitchell, has its maiden flight. The RAF and other allied forces used the plane extensively and to great effect during the Second World War.
Television broadcasting begins. Although the BBC had been transmitting television since 1930, regular service did not begin until 1936, when the 'BBC Television Service' (now BBC One) was broadcast from Alexandra Palace.

International

The Spanish Civil War begins. Nationalists, led by General Francisco Franco, and supported by Italian and German fascist governments, rebelled against the Second Spanish Republic. The conflict lasted until 1939, and anticipated many of the features of the Second World War: fighting between Communists and Fascists, the rise of nationalism and the use of terror tactics against civilians.

Tell us more back to top

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