Formed in London in 1871 as the Army and Navy Co-operative Society by a group of military officers to supply consumer goods at the most reasonable prices, the Society grew steadily and received many requests to serve the needs of homesick military personnel and civil servants in India wanting something from ‘Home’. The Society regularly […]
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The Lobster Inkstand. Good Luck
Formed in London in 1871 as the Army and Navy Co-operative Society by a group of military officers to supply consumer goods at the most reasonable prices, the Society grew steadily and received many requests to serve the needs of homesick military personnel and civil servants in India wanting something from ‘Home’. The Society regularly […]
A new Conveyance to the Regions of Folly
This hilarious illustration makes comments both on fashion and politics. The Union Jack on the flag and balloon suggest robust Britannia moving towards the regions of folly, perhaps across the water to France. Who does she carry on her back? Perhaps this is France having no choice be carried along and sign the Eden Treaty […]
Architectural Drawing by Sir Rowand Anderson
The current Mount Stuart is one of the most outstanding Gothic Revival buildings in the British Isles, and the vision of the 3rd Marquess of Bute – arguably the greatest architectural patron of the 19th century. Sir Robert Rowand Anderson prepared plans for this second Mount Stuart in 1879 and construction began in 1880. Work […]
Nell Gwynn
Nell Gwynn, the Hungary Harlot. Was the mistress of King Charles II, Nell Gwynn born Eleanor Gwyn. 2 February 1650, she was also one of the first British actresses. This piece of political satire is in the form of a coded letter. This picture puzzle code is called a rebus, it has pictures in the place […]
The Execution of Mary Queen of Scots
Mount Stuart has an fantastic collection of items associated with Mary Queen of Scots, this print was the first mass produced image of the execution taken from a bystanders account, gruesome but accurate. Other items include two small embroidered pieces one said to be her last and an eyewitness account of the execution by Sir Robert […]
Sporran worn by Bonnie Prince Charlie
This beautiful etching of a sporran worn by Prince Charles Edward Stuart is found in the catalogue from an exhibition of historical and personal relics. The catalogue was purchased by the 3rd Marquess of Bute and added to his collection. He was particularly interested in Scottish history and the history of the Stuart family and […]
Pair of Duelling Pistols belonging to Bonnie Prince Charlie
These beautiful etchings of Prince Charles Edward Stuart’s Duelling Pistols are found in the catalogue from an exhibition of historical and personal relics. The catalogue was purchased by the 3rd Marquess of Bute and added to his collection. He was particularly interested in Scottish history and the history of the Stuart family and purchased both […]
Miss Shuttlecock
Miss Shuttlecock The lady wears such a gigantic wig adorned with feathers that she resembles a shuttlecock and is seen between two men who take advantage of her attire and use her thus. The Bute Collection at Mount Stuart has fantasticly humorous collection of portraiture and satirical etchings that mock the excesses of high fashion […]
Ladies in a Carriage
The Vis a vis bisected, or The Ladies Co-op. The Bute Collection at Mount Stuart has fantasticly humorous collection of portraiture and satirical etchings that mock the excesses of high fashion and politics in Georgian Britain. There are several attributed to Matthew Darly. He and his wife Mary specialised in caricature, firstly concentrating on political […]
The Queens Ass
In the year 1762 a female zebra or ‘wild ass’ was given to Queen Charlotte and it became perhaps one of the most recognisable animals in Britain. The original image appeared as an illustration on a satirical song sheet which was a popular medium for serious and satirical political comment at this time. This item […]
Witchfinder General
Frontispiece of The discovery of witches. This woodcut depicts the self-styled Witchfinder General, Matthew Hopkins, with witches and their familiar spirits. Familiars were thought to be demonic imps which would assist the witches with their magic, often in animal form. Matthew Hopkins, England’s most notorious witch-hunter, centred his activities in Essex and the surrounding counties. […]
Amorum, Cherubs
The Amorum Emblemata is considered to be one of the most important and influential of all emblem books. The collection was designed by Otto van Veen (1556-1629) and first published in Antwerp in 1608 in three polyglot versions: Latin, French & Dutch; Latin, Italian & French (as in this copy); and Latin, English & Italian. […]
Giraffes on the Green
Giraffes Alive! Poster advertising the first giraffes on show in Scotland on Glasgow Green. The famed Bostock & Wombwell travelling Menageries, begun by George Wombwell in London in 1805, became the largest in Britain and toured the British Isles and the Continent, followed by America from coast to coast, South Africa, Australia & New Zealand […]
Bird Song
The book is one of the seminal works of musicology and was hugely influential in the development of Western music – in particular on J.S.Bach (1685-1750) and Beethoven (1770-1827). Its author lived and worked at the Collegio Romano in Rome for most of his life and his position at the hub of a huge international […]
The perfect form of a fruit-tree
A New Orchard and Garden and The Country Housewife’s Garden were Lawson’s only published works. They were first printed together in 1618* and proved popular enough to warrant further reprints in quick succession. Gardening had become a national passion in the Sixteenth Century. Then, as now, it was a recreation that brought peace and contentment, […]
A most certain strange and true discovery of a VVitch
The pamphlet, written during the Civil War, describes how the witch was fired at by soldiers of the army of the Earl of Essex, “but with a deriding and loud laughter … she caught their bullets in her hands and chew’d them”. Eventually however one of the soldiers succeeded in shooting her. The title page of […]
