When Adam Delved and Eve Span

Details

Date: 1895
Dimensions: 37.5 x 31.75
Object Type: print
Material: paper
Technique: woodcut
Catalogue number: P300a
Credit notes: Presented by J.W. Mackail?

The illustration was originally produced as an etching for the frontispiece to Morris’ “A Dream of John Ball” (Reeves & Turner 1888); the original drawing for this is in the Gallery’s collection, D75. The motto was in lower case roman letter printed by woodcut.
In this version, the enlarged illustration was printed in the Daily Chronicle as one of 24 illustrations by well-known artists of the day, assembled by Joseph Pennell with the object of furthering the cause of the Reform Party at the LCC elections of 1895; the title of the illustration on this occasion was ‘Labour’ and it was purported that it had been drawn especially for the Daily Chronicle. It is probably from the issue of Monday, 18th February 1895.
The illustration was again used in the Kelmscott Press edition of Morris’ book (Sept. 1892), framed in Morris frame with motto in capitals; both were woodcuts. This was also re-used for the leaflet printed in March 1894 for the Ancoats Brotherhood.
For another copy see P300.

Details

Date: June 1890
Dimensions: 25.9 x 19.6
Object Type: print
Material: paper
Technique: woodblock
Catalogue number: P807
Artist: Crane, Walter, 1845, 1915
Owner: Morris | May | 1862 | 1938
Maker: Hooper, William Harcourt (1834 - 1912)

This woodblock printed bookplate, inscribed ‘From the Branch to its Flower’, was designed by Walter Crane and engraved by W.H. Hooper to accompany a wedding gift of books from the Hammersmith Branch of the Socialist League to May Morris. The gift was accompanied with a message signed by 30 members saying ‘You have lived among us and have worked for us with your best strength’. The bookplate’s design incorporates three ‘caps of liberty’ in each corner.

Details

Date: 10.10.1885
Dimensions: 27.3 x 23.8
Object Type: print
Catalogue number: K2037
Author: Stafford, John Phillip (1851 - 1899)
Maker: W. H.
Sitter: Morris, William, 1834, 1896
Credit notes: Presented by Miss Effie M Morris, 1954

This cartoon appeared on the front cover of ‘Funny Folk’s on 10 October 1885. It shows a jaunty William Morris having his boots cleaned by a policeman; referring to Morris’s arrest on September 21, 1885 at Thames Magistrates Court for shouting “shame” during a trial. The arrest occurred after Morris protested the sentence of Lewis Lyons, a tailor, who was given two months of hard labor for allegedly resisting arrest at a public protest. Morris was arrested but because of his social position got off lightly in comparison to the sentences and fines imposed on other demonstrators.

Object Type: print

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