Book Jacket
1922 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
William Nicholson (knighted 1936) was one of the most popular painters and illustrators of his day and the father of artist Ben Nicholson. He also worked with James Pryde under the pseudonym "The Beggarstaff Brothers" to produce some of the finest posters of the late 19th and early 20th century.
The children's story,' The Velveteen Rabbit' by Margery Williams, first published in 1922, is a story about 'becoming real' through the power of love. It has become a classic of childrens literature. A measure of its popularity can be taken from references, for example, in the popular 1990s TV series 'Friends', and its appropriation as a teaching tool in business management and by life-style gurus. In the following quotation from the story, the Velveteen Rabbit, who joins the toys belonging to a small boy as a Christmas present, is being advised by one of the oldest toys in the toy cupboard about 'becoming real':
'...."It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand"...'
The children's story,' The Velveteen Rabbit' by Margery Williams, first published in 1922, is a story about 'becoming real' through the power of love. It has become a classic of childrens literature. A measure of its popularity can be taken from references, for example, in the popular 1990s TV series 'Friends', and its appropriation as a teaching tool in business management and by life-style gurus. In the following quotation from the story, the Velveteen Rabbit, who joins the toys belonging to a small boy as a Christmas present, is being advised by one of the oldest toys in the toy cupboard about 'becoming real':
'...."It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand"...'
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Colour lithograph on paper |
| Brief description | Book Wrapper for 'The Velveteen Rabbit' by Margery Williams, illustrated by William Nicholson. Published 1922 |
| Physical description | Pasted onto card. Front, spine and back cover of wrapper. Front cover illustration is of the rabbit upright facing the viewer with the title words written either side of his head. At bottom left the names of the author and illustrator. On the spine the title, on the back a lighted candle in a candlestick with red/orange rays coming from the flame and initials MW and WN below the candle. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Credit line | © Desmond Banks |
| Object history | This book jacket was originally acquired as an unregistered object by the Circulation Department for travelling exhibitions. |
| Production | Reason For Production: Retail |
| Subject depicted | |
| Literary reference | The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, published Heinemann, 1922 |
| Summary | William Nicholson (knighted 1936) was one of the most popular painters and illustrators of his day and the father of artist Ben Nicholson. He also worked with James Pryde under the pseudonym "The Beggarstaff Brothers" to produce some of the finest posters of the late 19th and early 20th century. The children's story,' The Velveteen Rabbit' by Margery Williams, first published in 1922, is a story about 'becoming real' through the power of love. It has become a classic of childrens literature. A measure of its popularity can be taken from references, for example, in the popular 1990s TV series 'Friends', and its appropriation as a teaching tool in business management and by life-style gurus. In the following quotation from the story, the Velveteen Rabbit, who joins the toys belonging to a small boy as a Christmas present, is being advised by one of the oldest toys in the toy cupboard about 'becoming real': '...."It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand"...' |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.483-1988 |
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| Record created | December 1, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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