Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Object of the Day: "The Sketch," Dec. 4, 1895





Do you remember a few weeks ago when I posted this picture from the George Speaight Punch & Judy Archive at the V&A?  The engraving depicting Mr. Punch portrayed by several different hands had been taken from the December 4, 1895 edition of “The Sketch” Magazine (1893-1959).  I’d mentioned at the time how much I loved to image and wished I could have it for my own collection.

Well, enter my mother and father who used their super-sleuthing and antiquing skills to not only find a copy of the image for me, but also the entire magazine from 1895.  They presented it to me for Easter this past Sunday and, as you can imagine, I was terribly thrilled.



I very carefully leafed through the antique publication and smiled happily upon these beautiful sketches of Mr. Punch.  And, I very happily read the articles—feeling as if I was, for a moment, in 1895 and absorbing the news of that early December.  Perhaps the most fascinating part of the magazine, however,  was the ads.  Seeing items that I write about—now in the V&A—being sold by their original creators as new—well, that’s just too exciting.  For example, remember this comb?  Well, here’s a smaller version of the same comb being presented as a perfect 1895 Christmas present by Wilson & Sons. The feeling of seeing these items with which I’m so familiar as antiques and museum pieces being  advertised when they were first created was, I think, most thrilling. 

I’d like to share a few images from the publication with you.  I didn’t take more since it is quite old and I want to save it from needless wear.  Let’s take a look inside…















No comments: