Blank notebook with an illustration of a kangaroo on the cover, produced in Abergavenny, Wales, by the printer and stationer John Cheese Watkins, approximately 1817
- Bib ID:
- 8626349
- Format:
- Book
- Description:
-
- Abergavenny : Watkins, Printer, [approximately 1817]
- 28 unnumbered leaves : illustration ; 19.8 x 16.4 cm
- Summary:
-
A small quarto blank book, ruled in red ink; the front cover with a large wood engraved illustration of a kangaroo, with printed explanatory text underneath, printer's imprint and 'No. 14', all within narrow floral border. The short explanatory text beneath the kangaroo is taken from J. Macloc's New, Complete, and Unusual Natural History of Four Hundred Animals (London, 1815). The woodcut reproduced in that book resembles the one of the 'kanguroo' on page 72 of Macloc, in that the kangaroo is depicted in its classic pose of looking backward, but the Watkins version adds a tree to the background and is much more expressive. It may be the earliest illustration of a kangaroo printed in Wales and demonstrates the widespread interest in this exotic creature early in the nineteenth century.
- Biography/History:
-
The printer and stationer John Cheese Watkins was active from 1801 until 1830 in Abergavenny in Wales (he worked another eight years with his son, until his death in 1838, but then signed as 'Watkins & Son'). The British Book Trade Index lists him as not only working as a printer and stationer, but also offering binding services, being a bookseller, running a post office, owning a circulating library, and acting as a newsagent. He appears to have printed a small number of books and serials, but the bulk of his business must have been stationary items, such as this blank note book or similar items. There were probably at least another thirteen other similar notebooks, with different illustrations, as this one is nominated 'No. 14', but this may be the only recorded example to survive.
- Notes:
-
- Title devised by cataloguer.
- Description based on a catalogue entry by Bogislav Winner, London, Rare & Curious, E-List XXXII, January 2022, item 24.
- National Library of Australia copy used as an account book with manuscript notes 'An account of payments [and receipts] made by Mr. Baker Gabb for Sir John Harington, Bart, on account of Cadover Farm ...1817'. In manuscript at head of cover 'Payments, 1817'.
- Binding:
- Bound in original publisher's illustrated dark blue wrappers, stitched as originally issued.
- Subject:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Watkins, John Cheese, -1838, printer
- Copyright:
-
Out of Copyright
You may copy or order a copy through Copies Direct or use the online copy for research or study; for other uses Contact us for further information about copying.
- Reason for copyright status:
- Creator Date of Death is Before 1955
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Literary Dramatic Musical
- Presumed date of death of creator (latest date):
- 1838
- Published status:
- Published
- Publication date:
- 1817
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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