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The Comical Cat. - London : Ward, Lock, & Tyler, [1865]. Variant (1). British Library (RB.23.b.4278)
The Comical Cat
pcb418
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The Comical Cat. - London : Ward, Lock, & Tyler, [1865]. Variant (1). British Library (RB.23.b.4278)
TITLE
The Comical Cat.
VARIANT TITLE
First line
Dame Trot and her Cat.
Dame Trot and her Cat.
PUBLISHED
London : Ward, Lock, & Tyler, [1865].
PRINTED
[London] : Edmund Evans.
PRICE
1s.
AUTHOR
TYPOLOGY
DESCRIPTION
Size
25x20 cm
Format and pagination
4° : 12 ll. : [6] ll. text, [6] ll. pls : col. ill.
Signatures
A/C4 in 12s
Signatures note
1 gathering, sewn (binding thread between C2.3), unpaginated
Illustrations
6 ills, one per page, signed "WC" on pls 3–6, col. ptd on one side of the sheet (red, yellow, brown, pink, blue, black)
Text and decorative headpieces, ptd on one side of the sheet (blue), face ills
Registering marks
Registering marks on pls 2 (3 red dots, lower left side) and 4 (3 red dots, upper right side)
Source for attribution
Signature
Drawings
Documents
Source for date
Advts
List of titles on low. and ins. wpr
BL accession stamp
25x20 cm
Format and pagination
4° : 12 ll. : [6] ll. text, [6] ll. pls : col. ill.
Signatures
A/C4 in 12s
Signatures note
1 gathering, sewn (binding thread between C2.3), unpaginated
Illustrations
6 ills, one per page, signed "WC" on pls 3–6, col. ptd on one side of the sheet (red, yellow, brown, pink, blue, black)
Text and decorative headpieces, ptd on one side of the sheet (blue), face ills
Registering marks
Registering marks on pls 2 (3 red dots, lower left side) and 4 (3 red dots, upper right side)
Source for attribution
Signature
Drawings
Documents
Source for date
Advts
List of titles on low. and ins. wpr
BL accession stamp
NOTES
Title and publication information are from up. wpr, which serves as title page, and from publishers' adtvs on low. wpr
PRINTING TECHNIQUES
ADVERTISEMENTS
VARIANTS
Variant (1)
[1865]; up. wpr, unsigned, reproducing details from pls 1–2, 6, col. ptd (red, blue, ochre, black); on up. wpr: 'ONE SHILLING. | [blank, outlined in black] THE | [blue, outlined in black and blank] COMICAL CAT | ... | LONDON: | WARD, LOCK, AND TYLER.'; same low. wpr as pcb307 (1) (a); blank ins. wpr
Variant (2)
[1865]; ochre printing block for up. and low. wpr has ruled pattern; ins. wpr with publishers' advts, same as pcb307 (1) (b)
Variant (3)
[1865]; on up. wpr: 'One shilling, coloured. Indestructible edition, on strong cloth, 2s. | ...'; ins. wpr with publishers' advts, same as pcb307 (1) (b)
[1865]; up. wpr, unsigned, reproducing details from pls 1–2, 6, col. ptd (red, blue, ochre, black); on up. wpr: 'ONE SHILLING. | [blank, outlined in black] THE | [blue, outlined in black and blank] COMICAL CAT | ... | LONDON: | WARD, LOCK, AND TYLER.'; same low. wpr as pcb307 (1) (a); blank ins. wpr
Variant (2)
[1865]; ochre printing block for up. and low. wpr has ruled pattern; ins. wpr with publishers' advts, same as pcb307 (1) (b)
Variant (3)
[1865]; on up. wpr: 'One shilling, coloured. Indestructible edition, on strong cloth, 2s. | ...'; ins. wpr with publishers' advts, same as pcb307 (1) (b)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1898a Crane, 3 ('Dame Trot and Her Comical Cat ... published by Warne & Co')
1902 Konody, 33, 38, 141 (as published by Warne)
1907 Crane, 76
1975 Spencer, 49, 201
2006 Masaki, II.183
2017 Masaki, 22, 170
2019 Cotsen, I.257, cat. 1455
2025 Tancini, I.219–21
1902 Konody, 33, 38, 141 (as published by Warne)
1907 Crane, 76
1975 Spencer, 49, 201
2006 Masaki, II.183
2017 Masaki, 22, 170
2019 Cotsen, I.257, cat. 1455
2025 Tancini, I.219–21
COPIES
BL: RB.23.b.4278 (variant (1): [1865]; accession stamp dated 10OC65; Digital copy)
NY-CUL: HISTCHIL Unclassified (n.a.)
PUL-CCL: 9952 (variant (2): [1865])
DPL: J1 (variant (3): [1865])
NY-CUL: HISTCHIL Unclassified (n.a.)
PUL-CCL: 9952 (variant (2): [1865])
DPL: J1 (variant (3): [1865])
TRADE COPIES
Private collection (US) (variant (1): [1865])
Roe and Moore Rare Books (variant (3): [1865]; sold in 2015; n.a.)
Roe and Moore Rare Books (variant (3): [1865]; sold in 2015; n.a.)
DRAWINGS, OBJECTS, DOCUMENTS
Drawings
BM: 1933,0411.20 (graphite on paper drawing for pl. 4)
WAG: WCA.1.1.1.1.1.5 (graphite on paper drawing for pl. 1: inscribed and dated '6. Comical Cat. Deliv.d June 6 1865. The 70th block this year')
WAG: WCA.1.1.1.1.1.15 (graphite on tracing paper drawing for pl. 1; inscribed and dated 'Comical Cat. Deliv.d June 6 1865. Block no. 70. 6th & last')
WAG: WCA.1.1.1.1.1.4 (graphite on tracing paper drawing for pl. 2; inscribed and dated 'Comical Cat (3). Drawn & del. May 3rd 1865. 67')
WAG: WCA.1.1.1.1.1.13 (graphite on tracing paper drawing for pl. 2; inscribed and dated 'Comical Cat. Drawn & deliv.d Thursday June 1 1865. No. 68')
WAG: WCA.1.1.1.1.1.10 (graphite on tracing paper drawing for pl. 3; inscribed and dated 'Comical Cat. No. <...> Deliv.d June 29 1865. 65')
WAG: WCA.1.1.1.1.1.12 (graphite on tracing paper drawing for pl. 4; inscribed and dated 'Comical Cat. 2. Drawn & deliv.d May 30 1865. 66')
WAG: WCA.1.1.1.1.1.14 (graphite on tracing paper drawing for pl. 5; inscribed and dated 'Comical Cat. Deliv.d June 6 1865. No. 69')
WAG: WCA.1.1.1.1.1.9 (graphite on paper drawing for pl. 5; inscribed '5. Treadle')
WAG: WCA.1.1.1.1.1.11 (graphite on paper drawing for pl. 6; inscribed '3')
Documents
JRUL: WCA/2/2/2/1 (Crane's journal for 1864–7 with references to The Comical Cat: f. 8r, 24 Apr.: 'Order for 6 designs (black backgrounds) to Dame Trot & her Comical Cat (in lieu of the 6 Blackbirds not to be done); 6 designs to the House that Jack Built to be drawn on wood in same style'; f. 10v, 22 May: 'Rec.d a note from Evans. The publishers wish House Jack Built & Comical Cat brought out at the same time with Jenny Wren'; f. 11r, 27 May: 'Commenced Comical Cat'; f. 11v, 29 May: 'Comical Cat (No. 1) finished & do. [del.]. Do. Do. (No. 2) commenced'; 30 May: 'Drawn & deliv.d Comical Cat Nos. 2, 3'; 1 Jun.: 'Comical Cat (No. 4) Drawn & delivered'; f. 12r, 5 Jun.: 'Comical Cat designed & drawn Nos. 5&6 (the last)'; 6 Jun.: 'Delivered Nos. 5&6 Comical Cat')
JRUL: WCA/2/2/2/1/11 (loose sheet formerly inserted in WCA/2/2/2/1 between ff. 12–13 with references to The Comical Cat: 'Mon. 5 [June]: Comical Cat all day')
JRUL: WCA/2/2/2/1/13 (loose sheet formerly inserted in WCA/2/2/2/1 between ff. 13–14 with references to The Comical Cat: 'July 11 1865. Edmund Evans, Esq.re to Walter Crane. Designing & drawing – June 5. 6 illustrations to Dame Trot & her Comical Cat. £12 - (£2 cash)')
JRUL: WCA/2/2/2/1/15 (loose sheet formerly inserted in WCA/2/2/2/1 between ff. 15–16 with references to The Comical Cat: 'Memorandum. July 11, 1865: Comical Cat. Proofs arr.d to colour Sun. June 18')
BM: 1933,0411.20 (graphite on paper drawing for pl. 4)
WAG: WCA.1.1.1.1.1.5 (graphite on paper drawing for pl. 1: inscribed and dated '6. Comical Cat. Deliv.d June 6 1865. The 70th block this year')
WAG: WCA.1.1.1.1.1.15 (graphite on tracing paper drawing for pl. 1; inscribed and dated 'Comical Cat. Deliv.d June 6 1865. Block no. 70. 6th & last')
WAG: WCA.1.1.1.1.1.4 (graphite on tracing paper drawing for pl. 2; inscribed and dated 'Comical Cat (3). Drawn & del. May 3rd 1865. 67')
WAG: WCA.1.1.1.1.1.13 (graphite on tracing paper drawing for pl. 2; inscribed and dated 'Comical Cat. Drawn & deliv.d Thursday June 1 1865. No. 68')
WAG: WCA.1.1.1.1.1.10 (graphite on tracing paper drawing for pl. 3; inscribed and dated 'Comical Cat. No. <...> Deliv.d June 29 1865. 65')
WAG: WCA.1.1.1.1.1.12 (graphite on tracing paper drawing for pl. 4; inscribed and dated 'Comical Cat. 2. Drawn & deliv.d May 30 1865. 66')
WAG: WCA.1.1.1.1.1.14 (graphite on tracing paper drawing for pl. 5; inscribed and dated 'Comical Cat. Deliv.d June 6 1865. No. 69')
WAG: WCA.1.1.1.1.1.9 (graphite on paper drawing for pl. 5; inscribed '5. Treadle')
WAG: WCA.1.1.1.1.1.11 (graphite on paper drawing for pl. 6; inscribed '3')
Documents
JRUL: WCA/2/2/2/1 (Crane's journal for 1864–7 with references to The Comical Cat: f. 8r, 24 Apr.: 'Order for 6 designs (black backgrounds) to Dame Trot & her Comical Cat (in lieu of the 6 Blackbirds not to be done); 6 designs to the House that Jack Built to be drawn on wood in same style'; f. 10v, 22 May: 'Rec.d a note from Evans. The publishers wish House Jack Built & Comical Cat brought out at the same time with Jenny Wren'; f. 11r, 27 May: 'Commenced Comical Cat'; f. 11v, 29 May: 'Comical Cat (No. 1) finished & do. [del.]. Do. Do. (No. 2) commenced'; 30 May: 'Drawn & deliv.d Comical Cat Nos. 2, 3'; 1 Jun.: 'Comical Cat (No. 4) Drawn & delivered'; f. 12r, 5 Jun.: 'Comical Cat designed & drawn Nos. 5&6 (the last)'; 6 Jun.: 'Delivered Nos. 5&6 Comical Cat')
JRUL: WCA/2/2/2/1/11 (loose sheet formerly inserted in WCA/2/2/2/1 between ff. 12–13 with references to The Comical Cat: 'Mon. 5 [June]: Comical Cat all day')
JRUL: WCA/2/2/2/1/13 (loose sheet formerly inserted in WCA/2/2/2/1 between ff. 13–14 with references to The Comical Cat: 'July 11 1865. Edmund Evans, Esq.re to Walter Crane. Designing & drawing – June 5. 6 illustrations to Dame Trot & her Comical Cat. £12 - (£2 cash)')
JRUL: WCA/2/2/2/1/15 (loose sheet formerly inserted in WCA/2/2/2/1 between ff. 15–16 with references to The Comical Cat: 'Memorandum. July 11, 1865: Comical Cat. Proofs arr.d to colour Sun. June 18')
OTHER VERSIONS
Included in
The Holiday Picture Book : With Pretty Verses and Merry Rhymes, Cleverly and Comically Illustrated with Large Pictures in Colours. - London : Ward, Lock, & Tyler, [1866]
Has version/s
The Comical Cat. - London : Ward, Lock, & Tyler, [before 1870]
Included in
Little Tot's Pleasure Book : Containing Nursery Rhymes and Rigmaroles, Jenny Wren Alphabet, Punch and Judy, The Comical Cat Alphabet. - London : Ward, Lock, & Co., [1877]
Has version/s
The Pussie Cat's ABC Book. - London : Ward, Lock, & Co., [1880]
The Holiday Picture Book : With Pretty Verses and Merry Rhymes, Cleverly and Comically Illustrated with Large Pictures in Colours. - London : Ward, Lock, & Tyler, [1866]
Has version/s
The Comical Cat. - London : Ward, Lock, & Tyler, [before 1870]
Included in
Little Tot's Pleasure Book : Containing Nursery Rhymes and Rigmaroles, Jenny Wren Alphabet, Punch and Judy, The Comical Cat Alphabet. - London : Ward, Lock, & Co., [1877]
Has version/s
The Pussie Cat's ABC Book. - London : Ward, Lock, & Co., [1880]
OCLCN
PERMALINK
CITATION
Francesca Tancini, "The Comical Cat". In PiCoBoo, accessed June 14, 2025, https://www.picoboo.eu/catalogue/pcb418