Not currently on display at the V&A

'Cheap Labour'

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
Titles
  • 'Cheap Labour' (assigned by artist)
  • 'Off for the holidays' (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink on card
Brief description
Pen and ink drawing by G. H. Thompson, ca. 1900; produced for Ernest Nister.
Physical description
Pen and ink drawing of a scene at a railway station. In the foreground a woman wearing glasses and holding a bag and umbrella follows a small boy who carries her luggage. A little dog watches on the right and two men watch on the left. Behind the woman the train stands in the station. There are people on the platform in the background. On the other side of the railway track is another platform with a booking office and a sign: 'MUGSBY'.
Dimensions
  • Mount height: 230mm
  • Mount width: 288mm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • Bookplate on verso reads: 'From the Library of Anne Renier and F.G. Renier'
  • Initialled by Anne Renier in ink on verso: 'AR'
  • Signed by the artist in bottom left corner: 'G H Thompson'
  • Ink stamp on verso reads: 'Ernest Nister / Order No. 43320 / 11 / Use: Off for the Holidays'
  • Inscribed in pencil by Anne Renier on verso: 'Thompson'
Credit line
Donated by Anne Renier and F.G. Renier.
Object history
Drawn by G. H. Thompson ca. 1900 for Ernest Nister. Bequeathed to the V&A in 1970 by Anne Renier and Fernand G. Renier as part of the Renier Collection.
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceCommissioned 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.
Bibliographic reference
Reproduced in 'The Renier Collection of Historic and Contemporary Children's Books. Occasional List no. 8 : Ernest Nister' (Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood, Autumn 1990), p.46.
Other number
Nister - Previous Renier Collection pressmark
Collection
Library number
RENIER.369

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Record createdMarch 6, 2008
Record URL
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