Not currently on display at the V&A

Arabian Nights

Illustration
ca.1907 (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 Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick.

In 1907 Ernest Nister published an edition of The Arabian Nights, edited with an introduction by W.H.D. Rouse and illustrated by Walter Paget.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • <u>Arabian Nights</u> (popular title)
  • 'The liquor pleasing his palate, he drank it all off'' (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour on card
Brief description
Watercolour drawing by Walter Paget, ca. 1907; produced for Ernest Nister.
Physical description
Watercolour drawing on stiff card of a scene from the Arabian Nights. A man carries an old man on his shoulders; the old man drinks from a bowl. Mounted on card.
Dimensions
  • Mount height: 308mm
  • Mount width: 245mm
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 ink on verso: 'The liquor pleasing his palate, he / drank it all off / W. Paget', '9543' and '12/12'
  • Inscribed in blue crayon on verso: 'XXX', 'C' and '19'
Credit line
Donated by Anne Renier and F.G. Renier.
Object history
Drawn by Walter Paget ca.1907 for Ernest Nister. 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 Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick.

In 1907 Ernest Nister published an edition of The Arabian Nights, edited with an introduction by W.H.D. Rouse and illustrated by Walter Paget.
Other number
Nister - Previous Renier Collection pressmark
Collection
Library number
RENIER.330

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Record createdFebruary 29, 2008
Record URL
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