Not currently on display at the V&A

See-saw Margery Daw

Illustration
ca.1890 (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.

E. Heatly's illustration was published in London by Ernest Nister in Sing a Song of Sixpence (no. 561), ca.1890. It accompanies the popular nursery rhyme, 'See-saw Margery Daw'

'See-saw Margery Daw,
Jenny shall have a new master;
She shall have but a penny a day,
Because she can't work any faster.'


Object details

Categories
Object type
Title<u>See-saw Margery Daw</u> (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour on card
Brief description
Watercolour drawing by E. Heatly, ca.1890; commissioned by Ernest Nister.
Physical description
Watercolour drawing of a boy and girl playing on a see-saw made from a plank of wood over a log. The little boy is on the right of the drawing wearing a blue dress and hat with a feather. The girl is on the left of the drawing wearing a white dress with a pink ribbon and a pink spotted cap. Mounted on card.
Dimensions
  • Mount height: 287mm
  • Mount width: 250mm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • Bookplate on verso reads: 'From the Library of Anne Renier and F.G. Renier'
  • Initialled in ink on verso by Anne Renier: 'AR'
  • Inscribed in blue crayon on verso: '41', '12/12.
  • Inscribed in ink on verso: 'XVII' and 'E.H.'
  • Inscribed in pencil on verso: '[H]eatly' and 'Seesaw, Margery Daw'
  • White label with blue decorative border on top right corner verso, inscribed '7158'
Credit line
Donated by Anne Renier and F.G. Renier.
Object history
Drawn by E. Heatly ca.1890. Bequeathed to the V&A in 1970 by Anne and Fernand G. Renier as part of the Renier Collection.
Subjects depicted
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.

E. Heatly's illustration was published in London by Ernest Nister in Sing a Song of Sixpence (no. 561), ca.1890. It accompanies the popular nursery rhyme, 'See-saw Margery Daw'

'See-saw Margery Daw,
Jenny shall have a new master;
She shall have but a penny a day,
Because she can't work any faster.'
Other number
Nister - Previous Renier Collection pressmark
Collection
Library number
RENIER.301

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Record createdFebruary 26, 2008
Record URL
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