Not currently on display at the V&A

Ring a-Ring o' Rosies

Illustration
ca.1900 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Ernest Nister (1842-1909) began his publishing career in 1885 when he acquired a lithographic workshop in Nürnberg and printed books for London publishers. In 1888 he became a publisher in his own right with offices at 24 St. Bride Street, London. He appointed the writer and editor, Robert Ellice Mack, as director.

Nister specialised in high quality colour printing for children in the last quarter of the 19th century. Movable books with various mechanisms became his speciality after 1890 (when be published his first stand-up book) but he also produced numerous picture books, annuals, poetry, nursery rhymes, calendars and greetings cards. He worked with a core of writers, including Clifton Bingham and Robert Ellice Mack, and illustrators, in particular Eveline Lance, Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Title<u>Ring a-Ring o' Rosies</u> (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink and watercolour on card
Brief description
Watercolour drawing by Edith A. Cubitt, ca.1900; commissioned by Ernest Nister.
Physical description
Pen and ink and watercolour drawing on stiff card depicting the nursery rhyme, Ring a-Ring o' Rosies. Six children hold hands in a field, forming a ring. Four of the children are falling to the ground. The children wear brightly coloured clothes, some wear hats or bows in their hair. In the distance a gate in the hedge leads to further fields. Mounted on card.
Dimensions
  • Mount height: 320mm
  • Mount width: 380mm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • Bookplate on verso reads: 'From the Library of Anne Renier and F.G. Renier'
  • Inscribed in ink on verso: 'Ring a Ring of Roses / E.A. Cubitt'
  • Inscribed in blue crayon on verso: 'XXVII 12/12 / 8569' and '9'
  • Inscribed in ink on mount edge verso: '8569'
Credit line
Donated by Anne Renier and F.G. Renier.
Object history
Drawn by Edith A. Cubitt for an Ernest Nister publication, ca.1900. Bequeathed to the V&A in 1970 by Anne and Fernand G. Renier as part of the Renier Collection.
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceIllustrating a version of the nursery rhyme: Ring a-ring o' roses, A pocketful of posies. a-tishoo!, a-tishoo!, We all fall down. Commissioned by Ernest Nister.
Summary
Ernest Nister (1842-1909) began his publishing career in 1885 when he acquired a lithographic workshop in Nürnberg and printed books for London publishers. In 1888 he became a publisher in his own right with offices at 24 St. Bride Street, London. He appointed the writer and editor, Robert Ellice Mack, as director.

Nister specialised in high quality colour printing for children in the last quarter of the 19th century. Movable books with various mechanisms became his speciality after 1890 (when be published his first stand-up book) but he also produced numerous picture books, annuals, poetry, nursery rhymes, calendars and greetings cards. He worked with a core of writers, including Clifton Bingham and Robert Ellice Mack, and illustrators, in particular Eveline Lance, Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick.
Other numbers
  • Nister - Previous Renier Collection pressmark
  • R(2)140 - Previous National Art Library pressmark
Collection
Library number
RENIER.275

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Record createdFebruary 19, 2008
Record URL
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