W. Burt scrapbook : manuscript.

England?, 1820s?-1867 (bulk 1820s)

1 volume (80 pages) : illustrations (some color) ; 44 x 27 cm

English

Scrapbook of cut-out printed illustrations, clippings of printed text, and micro-writing pasted onto pages of colored paper. Many of the pages indicate an intentional design and an artful organization of content. There is a striking number of examples of micro-writing or miniature writing throughout the volume, including epitaphs, historical anecdotes, poetry, sayings, quotes, short excerpts, aphorisms, and epigrams. Manuscript text is mounted on colored paper and decorated with strips of gold trim. Printed text is comprised of primarily labels or captions accompanying illustration content. The volume features a variety of printed illustrations that have been intricately cut out and pasted onto the pages. Illustrated content includes portraits, butterflies, shells, fish, architecture, scenes, and scenery. Some illustrations feature racist caricatures or are accompanied by offensive descriptions. Notable figures include Billy Waters, Shakespeare, George Washington, George Morland, Blue Beard, Mrs. Woffington (i.e. Margaret Woffington), Richard Brothers, Miss Farren (i.e. Elizabeth Farren), and Miss Greene of the Theatre Royal Covent Garden (i.e. Lucy Ann Bedford). The compiler of the scrapbook appears to have had an interest in contemporary British theater, as many of the portraits in the volume are of contemporary British actors and actresses. Some illustrations may also possibly be from toy theaters.

December 10, 2020