A George V silver Albany pattern fish knife and fork, Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co Ltd, London, 1910/11

In his book, Silver Flatware (Woodbridge, 1983, p. 142), Ian Pickford states that the Albany pattern first appeared as the Queen Anne pattern in the mid 1880s in the illustrated catalogue of Francis Higgins, the prolific manufacturing and wholesale London silver spoon and fork specialist. Apparently inspired by the 18th century Onslow pattern, this new Queen Anne pattern was probably re-named Albany following Prince Leopold (1853-1884), Queen Victoria's youngest son's creation as Duke of Albany in 1881.

On 14 March 1890, Christie, Manson & Woods sold 'a Small SERVICE of PLATE, the property of Lieut. General W. Martin Cafe, V.C., comprising tea and coffee pots, cruet frame, sale cellars, a service of Albany-pattern forks and spoons, and other useful plate and plated articles.' (The Daily News, London, Monday, 3 March 1890, p. 8a) General William Martin Cafe (1826-1906), who had been awarded the Victoria Cross in 1858 for gallant action during the Indian Mutiny, was a great grandson and great great nephew respectively of the specialist London silver candlestick makers, William Cafe (1727-1802) and John Cafe (d. 1757).