Letter from William Little, London to John Gilbert, London [manuscript] : autograph manuscript signed, [September?] 1854.
1854
Items
Details
Title
Letter from William Little, London to John Gilbert, London [manuscript] : autograph manuscript signed, [September?] 1854.
Created/published
London, [September?] 1854.
Description
1 item ; 20 x 13 cm
Associated name
Little, William, 1816-1884, sender.
Gilbert, John, addressee.
Gilbert, John, addressee.
Note
This is a PRELIMINARY RECORD. It may contain incorrect information. The "FAST ACC" number is a temporary call number. Please email catalog@folger.edu for assistance.
Place of creation/publication
Great Britain -- England -- London.
Item Details
Call number
FAST ACC 271030 (flat)
Folger-specific note
From dealer's description: "1 leaf, small 8vo (199 × 128 mm), on Illustrated London News letterhead blue paper, creased where previously folded. A letter from William Little (1816–1884), printer and publisher of the Illustrated London News, to John Gilbert (later Sir John, 1817–1897), the great Victorian Shakespeare illustrator, regarding his latest work: I have just seen Williamson’s proof of your “Shylock” it is magnificent – have you any idea of making a “Water-Color Rembrandt” of the same subject if so perhaps you will allow me to ask the particulars. Yrs truly W. Little. I have sent a Cheque. Gilbert’s illustration was published, full-page, as ‘Shylock and Jessica’, on 30 September 1854: ‘The scene presented the artist with an opportunity for the display of the striking costume of the drama, of which he has gracefully availed himself … The picture is altogether a very successful Illustration of Shakspeare’s highly finished comedy’ (p. 312). ‘Williamson’ is possibly J. Williamson, a wood engraver of the period. ‘It was Gilbert’s association with Shakespeare that earned him his greatest fame as an illustrator. Howard Staunton’s impressive edition of Shakespeare, issued in three volumes in 1860, contains 829 designs by Gilbert, many depicting scenes never before illustrated. His original blocks for this work, now in the print room of the British Museum, were engraved by the Dalziel brothers’ (Oxford DNB). The Museum also has a proof of the illustration mentioned here." Ordered from Simon Beattie, D9222, 07-20-2018, Catalogue, Shakespeare and the Stage (July 2018).
Folger accession
271030