book;
book-illustration;
print
- Museum number
- 1865,1111.1997-2003
- Description
-
Reid 5066. "Puss in Boots" from George Cruikshank's Fairy Library.
Bound in brown leather with marbling on the inside covers. Inside, a title page on light blue paper described by GW Reid as follows:
1. See Reid 4387. (T. Williams) An ornamental design on the wrapper, the title surrounded by a border having foxgloves growing on each side and grotesque figures beneath seated on mushrooms [reading.] A vignette at the bottom represents an old woman telling a story to a circle of girls and boys. (See comments.)
2. The frontispiece illustration (Reid 2638) represents two subjects, one above the other. The upper gives a view of the mill, the miller standing and watching the progress of his son in leading a laden ass. A farm and the distant country beyond. At the foot of the lower chamber in the mill with "Puss in Boots" inscribed on one of the rafters, the open door showing the fields. "Tom Puss Consoling his Master, and asking for a Pair of Boots and a Suit of Clothes."
An additional title-page is bound opposite the frontispiece lettered with the title:
"George Cruikshank's Fairy Library. Puss in Boots. Edited and Illustrated with Etchings on Steel by George Cruikshank." With the publisher's details at the foot of the page:
"London: Routledge, Warne and Routledge , Broadway, Ludgate Hill; F. Arnold, 86, Fleet Street."
With further illustration plates:
3. Reid 2641. Two subjects. "Tom Puss Catching a Rabbit" and "In the Rabbit Warren." A view of a bank on the outskirts of a wood, animals gambol in and out of their burrows, one is about to enter the trap that was laid by the cat. Below "Tom Puss presenting a Rabbit to the King in the Royal Palace." His Majesty is delighted, and the princess much interested.
4. Reid 2640. Two subjects. "Tom Puss telling the King that his mater, the Marquess of Carabas is in the river." The carriage is stopped to allow the cat to address his Royal Highness. The youth is in the water on the right, partially hidden by bullrushes. "Tom Puss after his master is dressed introduces him to the King as the Marquess of Carabas!" the latter is graciously received by the royal party.
5. Reid 2639. "Tom Puss commands the reapers to tell the King that all the fields belong to the most noble Marquess of Carabas." A view of the road winding through a corn-field, where the wheat is half cut, and portions tied in sheaves; the peasants pay homage to the feline adventurer, and are awed into submission and ready to obey him. The royal cortège is in the distance, about to turn a corner.
6. Reid 2642. Three subjects. Above "The Ogre Turns himself into an Elephant! Tom Puss pretends to be frightened." The cat flying towards a table on the left. In the centre "The Ogre Turns himself into a Lion! Tom Puss still more frightened, and asks the Ogre to change into a Mouse." At foot. "The Ogre turns himself into a Mouse- Tom Puss springs upon and kills him."
7. Reid 2643. Two Subjects. Above "Tom Puss receiving the King, the Princess and his Master at the Castle." His Majesty enters first and is about to mount the steps, the young people following with the guards behind. Below "The Wedding Feast and Tom Puss making a Speech!" The bride has the seat of honour, her husband on her right and the king on her left, the guests all listen attentively to the cat, who stands on the table to be better heard.
The text to the story is printed on pages 3-27, on pages 28-30. "An address to litte boys and girls." and pages 30-40 "To parents and guardians." Lettered at the end of the text "Harrild, Printer, London."
Advertisements for other publications are printed on the back pages.
1864.
Letterpress book with etched illustrations.
- Production date
- 1864
- Dimensions
-
Height: 185 millimetres (approx. page height (illustration plate))
-
Height: 187 millimetres (approx. page height)
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Width: 123 millimetres (approx. page width (illustration plate))
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Width: 130 millimetres (approx. page width)
- Curator's comments
- Description from GW Reid, "A Descriptive Catalogue of the works of George Cruikshank" 1871.
The illustrations are bound in the text in a different order to Reid's catalogue entries.
Versions of the wrapper on blue paper at the beginning and end of of the book were also used for "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Cinderella" and "Hop-O'My Thumb."
It appears that the blue paper wrapper was originally the front and back cover of the book and it has been bound in leather at a later date.
On the inside of the wrapper, Cruikshank's note "To the Public" in which he states: "I hereby caution the Public against buying any work as mine with the name of Mr Read of Johnson's Court, upon it as Publisher." (He claims that Read of Johnson's Court had sold works by his nephew Percy under the name "Cruikshank.")
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1865
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1865,1111.1997-2003
