- Museum number
- 1913,0415.181
- Title
- Object: India-Proofs of Wood-Engravings by The Brothers Dalziel
- Description
-
Album with hand-written title page: 'India-Proofs of Wood-Engravings by The Brothers Dalziel. General Work - Various. 1865. This Book was made up at the time the engravings shown in it were done.' Half-bound in brown leather and gilt; lettering on spine reads 'Wood-Engravings by the Brothers Dalziel. XX. Various Works. 1865'. The album includes approximately 1305 wood-engraved proofs. Following the title-page there is a contents page written by the Dalziels. This is useful though by no means comprehensive; it refers to publishers, writers, designers, periodicals or book titles. Most of the proofs have the Dalziels' signature, although some don't, particularly the diagrams, decoration, lettering and simpler commercial images.
The album includes numerous book and periodical illustrations of all sorts, many of them for children. There are a large number of narrative illustrations. There are religious and historical images, and imperialist, orientalising illustrations. The album includes many decorative borders and designs, pictorial initials and lettering, and some reproductions of medals and heraldic designs. There are a few natural history illustrations, and some landscape, topography, architecture and maritime illustrations. A large number of wood-engravings for periodicals are included, for titles such as: 'The Quiver', 'London Society', 'The Churchman's Family Magazine', 'The Sunday Magazine', 'Beeton's Christmas Annual' and 'Routledge's Magazine for Boys'.
Individual prints include the following:
No. 1: a decorative border or empty frame.
Nos. 33-45: thirteen decorative floral designs. The first is in the shape of a capital 'C'. This is presumably an illustrated inital for the word 'Calendar', since the other illustrations have the months from January to December inscribed in pencil on the prints, probably by one of the Dalziels.
Nos. 103-106: five pictorial initials after Charles Altamont Doyle, apparently for the magazine 'London Society'.
Nos. 132-140: pictorial title and illustrations after Charles H. Ross, for 'The Real Adventures of a Would Be Boy Bandit'. According to the annotation, this pictorial narrative was published in Beeton's Christmas Annual for 1866. Each proof is comprised of three vignette illustrations, like a cartoon strip.
Nos. 144-145: frontispiece and illustrated title-page after John Gordon Thomson, for [James Greenwood], 'The True History of a Little Ragamuffin' (London: Frederick Warne & Co., 1866). At least, these are the publication details engraved on the woodblock in this proof. However, the British Library has a copy of the book in parts, with the same frontis and illustrated title-page, but a letterpress insert replacing the publication details, which this time cites 'S. O. Beeton' (ie. Samuel Orchart Beeton) as publisher, and is undated. The published installments also have an illustrated wrapper, also designed by Thomson but engraved on wood by William Luson Thomas. The book also includes several illustrations by the Dalziels after Phiz (Hablot Knight Browne); for proofs of these, see reg. no. 1913,0415.182. It appears that this publication changed hands with regard to publisher, designer and wood engraver.
Nos. 208-226: various proofs for the publishers Chapman & Hall, including a poster advertising 'The Pickwick Papers', proofed without lettering (the lettering may well have been added as type). There are also covers and spines for the 'People's edition' of several works of fiction by Dickens: 'The Pickwick Papers', 'Oliver Twist', 'Nicholas Nickleby', 'Dombey and Son', 'Barnaby Rudge' and 'Christmas Books'.
Nos. 227-240: illustrations after Miss E. Taylor for Anthony Trollope, 'Can you Forgive Her?' (London: Chapman & Hall, 1864-5). The novel was published in monthly installments, the first of which were illustrated by Phiz (Hablot K Browne). However, E. Taylor and the Dalziel Brothers took over the commission for the last ten numbers, equating to the second volume in the book version; Trollope had been unhappy with Phiz's illustrations. These proofs are the second lot of the illustrations designed by Taylor; the first are in the previous volume of the Dalziel Archive (reg. no. 1913,0415.180).
Nos. 241-251: illustrations after Marcus Stone for Charles Dickens, 'Our Mutual Friend' (London: Chapman and Hall, 1864-5). This novel was published in parts between May 1864 and November 1865, and was then issued in book form in 1865. The illustrations included here are for the installments published from February to November 1865. For the earlier illustrations, see the previous album in the Dalziel Archive (reg. no. 1913, 0415.180). Dalziel engraved half of the illustrations to 'Our Mutual Friend'; in most cases, they were responsible for one of the two images in each monthly installment. The other images were engraved by W. T. Green (these are not, of course, in the Dalziel Archive).
Nos. 255-291: most or all of these designs are after the architect John Taylor, Jun., for a publication entitled 'Cast Iron Rainwater Goods'. No. 289 is the illustrated title page of this publication. Presumably this is a pamphlet; it is 'volume III' of an unidentified series. For more architectural designs after Taylor see reg. no. 1913,0415.182.
Nos. 324-366: illustrations after John Tenniel for Lewis Carroll, 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' (London: Macmillan, 1865); also known as 'Alice in Wonderland'. Electrotypes were made of the blocks for the book publication, but these wood engraved proofs were taken direct from the woodblocks. As with most of the prints in the Dalziels' albums, the detail is considerably finer than in published impressions.
No. 371: 'The Advent of Winter'; illustration after Frederick Sandys illustrating Hood's poem published in the magazine 'The Quiver', 3rd Series, Vol. I, January 1866, and then as an illustration of October in 'Idyllic Pictures' (London: Cassell, 1867).
Nos. 404-407: illustrations after Arthur B. Houghton for Elizabeth Eiloart, 'Ernie Elton, the Lazy Boy' (London: Routledge, 1865).
Nos. 411-415: five pictorial initials after various artists including Edmond Fitzpatrick and Alfred W. Bayes.
Nos. 428-435: illustrated wrappers to various fairy tales published by Routledge, all 'sixpence plain, one shilling coloured'. In all of these the central illustration has been crossed out in ink.
Nos. 487-518: various wood-engravings for the publishers Ward & Lock, including many after Thomas Dalziel for John Bunyan, 'The Pilgrim's Progress' (edition not yet identified). Thomas Dalziel had designed illustrations for the 1863 edition of this book, and an undated, enlarged edition was later published. For a copy of the published book see reg. no. 1992,0406.42. For the 1863 illustrations see reg. no. 1913,0415.178 and for more of the later illustrations, see reg. no. 1913,0415.182.
Nos. 724-731: wood-engravings after Alfred W. Bayes, clearly designed for children and illustrating several trades and occupations. These large-scale images employ a particularly dramatic, contrasting style. They share their format with numerous other images in the album of other subjects (see nos. 732-71. nos. 1271-1304), many of which are also after Bayes, and whose subjects include various fairytales and other subjects for children.
Nos. 795-810: illustrations after Arthur B. Houghton and Thomas Dalziel for 'The Arabian Nights' Entertainment' [i.e 'The 1001 Nights'] translated by George Fyler Townsend (London: Frederick Warne, 1866).
Nos. 899-997: illustrations after Arthur B. Houghton for Cervantes, 'Adventures of Don Quixote de la Mancha', translated by Charles Jarvis (London: Frederick Warne, 1866).
Nos. 1115-1196: illustrations after Alfred W. Bayes for Hans Christian Andersen, 'Stories for the Household', translated by H. W. Dulcken (London: Routledge, 1866). See also reg. no. 1913,0415.182.
Nos. 1212-1230: illustrations after Richard Doyle for Planche, J. R., 'An Old Fairy Tale Told Anew' (London, Routledge, [1866]). For a copy of the published book see reg. no. 1992,0406.262.
- Producer name
-
Block cut by: Dalziel Brothers (All)
-
After: Thomas Bolton Gilchrist Septimus Dalziel (Nos. 19, 120, 163-4, 168-81, 400, 458, 466, 477, 481-2, 487-8, 494-512, 797, 801, 1090-93, 1096, 1100)
-
After: Richard Doyle (Nos. 1212-1230)
-
After: Edmund Fitzpatrick (Nos. 410-413)
-
After: Arthur Boyd Houghton (Nos. 28, 99, 123, 162, 204, 206, 226, 404-7, 417-23, 436-43, 478-9, 683-6, 711-4, 795-6, 798-800, 803, 805, 808, 899-997)
-
After: Percy William Justyne (No. 108?)
-
After: William McConnell (No. 100)
-
After: Adelaide Claxton (Nos. 75-8, 85)
-
After: Florence Anne Claxton (Nos. 97-8, 121)
-
After: Frederick Sandys (No. 371)
-
After: Marcus Stone (Nos. 94, 241-51)
-
After: Sir John Tenniel (Nos. 324-66)
-
After: John Dawson Watson (Nos. 687-94)
-
After: Thomas W Wood (Nos. 29-32)
-
After: Johann Baptist Zwecker (Nos. 468, 480)
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After: Alfred Walter Bayes (Nos. 95, 122, 127, 414, 453-7, 459, 461, 463, 465, 471-6, 483-4, 528, 646-7, 655-8, 661, 663-4, 669, 695-710, 724-31, 748-55, 819-98, 1003, 1009-89, 1115-96, 1279, 1283-4, 1297-1304)
-
After: William S Brunton (Nos. 84, 86-7)
-
Published by: Routledge (Nos. 404-7, 428-435, 1115-1196, 1212-1230)
-
After: Charles Altamont Doyle (Nos. 50-57, 81-83, 103-106)
-
After: James Godwin (Nos. 72a, 89)
-
After: George John Pinwell (Nos. 96, 183-184, 225, 369-370, 372)
-
After: Joseph Wolf (No. 185)
-
After: Thomas Dewell Scott (Nos. 20, 67-68, 70, 124, 157, 292, 452)
-
Published by: Ward, Lock & Co (Nos. 487-518)
-
Published by: Chapman & Hall (Nos. 207-251)
-
After: E Taylor (Nos. 208, 227-240)
-
After: Harrison William Weir (No. 774)
-
After: Edward Henry Corbould (No. 434)
-
After: Walter Crane (Nos. 675-682)
-
After: Robert Dudley (No. 130)
-
After: Edith Dunn (No. 93)
-
After: Mary Ellen Edwards (Nos. 424-427)
-
After: John Franklin (Nos. 811-818)
-
After: Paul Gray (Nos. 92, 373, 485-486)
-
After: Lionel Charles Henley (No. 90)
-
After: Rosa Jackson (No. 74)
-
After: Francis Wilfred Lawson (Nos. 444-451)
-
After: Edward Lear (Nos. 1197-1200)
-
After: Lois Mearns (Nos. 80, 102)
-
After: Charles Henry Ross (Nos. 132-140)
-
After: Sartor (No. 101)
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After: Thomas S Seccombe (Nos. 8, 88, 91)
-
After: Henry Courtney Selous (No. 367)
-
After: William Small (No. 368?)
-
After: Bruce James Talbert (No. 16)
-
After: John Taylor, Jun. (Nos. 255-278)
-
After: Alfred Thompson (Nos. 107, 146-54)
-
After: John Gordon Thomson (Nos. 142-145)
-
After: Fane Wood (Nos. 73, 79, 110-112)
-
After: Robert Seymour (Nos. 207, 209 (both designs substantially adapted from Seymour's earlier illustration, 1836))
-
After: Hablot Knight Browne (Phiz) (No. 221 (with monogram))
-
Published by: Macmillan & Co (Nos. 324-66)
-
Published by: F Warne & Co (Nos. 899-997)
- Production date
- 1865
- Dimensions
-
Height: 450 millimetres (size of bound album)
-
Thickness: 65 millimetres (size of bound album)
-
Width: 302 millimetres (size of bound album)
- Curator's comments
- Catalogued by Bethan Stevens (University of Sussex) in partnership with the British Museum and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC); digital photography by Sylph Editions, London (www.sylpheditions.com).
At the front of the volume is a handwritten list of artists linked to several of the prints. The handwriting has been identified as Arthur Aspitall's, after comparison with the bound volume 'Specimens of Handwriting', held in the British Museum Print Room. Where no comments are given after the names of producers, evidence is clear and has been verified (e.g. signed print, publication details, etc.). An overview of the album has been offered here, but it would be possible to identify more publications and artists on inspection and with further research.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
2021 22 May-31 Dec, London,V&A, Alice, Curioser and Curioser
- Associated titles
Associated Title: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Nos. 324-366 (known as 'Alice in Wonderland'))
- Acquisition date
- 1913
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1913,0415.181
