Pussy cat, Pussy cat
Illustration
ca.1890 (made)
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.
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>Pussy cat, Pussy cat</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 white cat dressed in a hat with a pink ribbon sitting on a chair talking to two little girls, one wearing a red dress and one wearing a white and blue striped dress. Mounted on card. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| Credit line | Donated by Anne Renier and F.G. Renier. |
| Object history | Drawn by E. Heatly for an Ernest Nister publication ca.1890. Bequeathed to the V&A in 1970 by Anne and Fernand G. Renier as part of the Renier Collection. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Literary reference | Commissioned by Ernest Nister to accompany the popular nursery rhyme: Pussy cat, pussy cat, Where have you been? I've been to London to visit the Queen. Pussy cat, pussy cat, What did you do there? I chased a little mouse right under the chair. The last line can be sung: I frightened a little mouse, under her chair. |
| 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 number | Nister - Previous Renier Collection pressmark |
| Collection | |
| Library number | RENIER.302 |
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| Record created | February 26, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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