DIORAMA

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Manuscript 'Journal of a Tour to London' in 1844 [by William Morris Mousley of Cold Ashby, Northamptonshire?], including descriptions of visits to 'Tom Thumb' at the Egyptian Hall, and to 'Wizard' Jacobs, the magician and ventriloquist, in Dover

Author: 
[Rev. William Morris Mousley (b. 1828), son of the Rev. William Mousley, vicar of Cold Ashby, Northamptonshire; 'Tom Thumb'; the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly; 'Wizard' Jacobs, conjuror and ventriloquist]
Publication details: 
4 to 28 June 1844.
£450.00

12mo, 39 pp. Stitched into original coloured wraps decorated with pastel-coloured rainbow stripes. Text clear and complete. Good, on aged paper. The final two pages of the volume contain crude sketches in coloured pencil (figure seated on steps of country cottage, a clump of trees, ships at sea). The year is not stated, but certainly 1844 from the references in the volume. Found with other autograph material of the Rev. W. M. Mousley, who would have been sixteen at the time of writing. The trip is made along with 'Papa', 'Mama [Mamma]' (often 'poorly'), 'Henry' and 'James'.

Coloured lithographic print, for display in a light box, captioned 'G. W's. Transparencies. Thames Tunnel.'

Author: 
G. W's. Transparencies' [the Thames Tunnel; Marc Isambard Brunel; Isambard Kingdom Brunel; transparency]
Publication details: 
Undated [1840s]. 'London: Published for G. W., by Reeves and Sons, Cheapside; W. Morgan, 49, Judd Street, New Road; T. Fisher, 1, Hanway Street, Oxford Street; and J. Reynolds, 174, Strand.'
£300.00

Dimensions of print roughly 12.5 x 18 cm. On original white paper windowpane mount (23 x 28.5 cm). Engraved label (3 x 9.5 cm), with text printed in gilt on navy blue paper. Bright, clean impression, on discoloured mount with creased label. Depicts fashionably dressed pedestrians proceeding along the length of the tunnel. Two children play on the cobbled central track. A series of small holes have been neatly cut within the alcoves of the tunnel. On display of the print within a lightbox, these would simulate the gas lighting used to illuminate the tunnel.

Coloured lithographic dioramic print, captioned 'Dawson's Diorama No. 4. The British Queen, a first rate Steem [sic] Ship, which on holding it up to the light changes to her Magesty [sic] Queen Victoria, attired in her Robes of State.'

Author: 
T. Dawson, London printseller [Queen Victoria; SS British Queen; diorama; dioramic print; optical illusion; naval and maritime]
Publication details: 
Undated, but between 1839 and 1844. 'London: Published by T. Dawson, 29, Bedeord [sic, for 'Bedford'] St. Covent Garden.'
£300.00

Dimensions of print roughly 13 x 17.5 cm. On original grey paper windowpane mount (22 x 28.5 cm). Engraved label (3 x 12.5 cm) beneath the print, with small remarque-style illustrations of the ship and the queen. The print itself is good, although aged and a little worn and spotted; the spotting and aging to the margins and mount is a little heavier. Attractive and unusual item, the image changing when held up to the light. The ship is depicted sailing on choppy seas, and the young queen seated with drapery around her on a verandah with stone balustrades and a landscape behind. Scarce.

Coloured lithographic dioramic print, captioned 'Dawson's Diorama No. 1. The Emperor Napoleon in Captivity at Elba, changing to his reception by the Army whom he walked up to with these words "If there be among you a Soldier [...] Here I am!'

Author: 
T. Dawson, London printseller [Napoleon Bonaparte; diorama; dioramic print]
Publication details: 
Undated [circa 1838]. 'London: Published by T. Dawson, 29, Bedford St. Covent Garden.'
£300.00

The caption ends '[...] a Soldier who desires to kill his General let him do it now. Here I am!' Dimensions of print roughly 13 x 17 cm. On original grey paper windowpane mount (22 x 27.5 cm). Engraved label (4 x 12.5 cm) beneath the print, with small remarque-style illustrations. Aged and spotted, with slight wear to the print. An unusual and attractive piece of Napoleonic iconography, a full-length image of the deposed Emperor of the French, characteristically attired, on a beach with his hand on a rock, looking out to a sunset at sea.

Coloured lithographic dioramic print, captioned 'No. 17. Morgan's Improved Protean Scenery. Virginia Water. [...] upon holding it before the light, you will be presented with a splendid display of Fire-works, in honor of Her Majesty's Coronation.'

Author: 
William Morgan, printseller [the Coronation of Queen Victoria, 1838; Virginia Water, Runnymede, Surrey; Windsor Great Park; diorama; dioramic print; fireworks]
Publication details: 
Undated [1838]. 'London. Published by Wm: Morgan, 25, Bartlett's Buidgs. Holborn Hill, December 1st. 1838.'
£200.00

The portion of the caption, missing in the description above, reads '[...] Virginia Water. This Print at first represents this enchanting lake by day, and upon holding it before the light, you will be presented [...]'. Dimensions of print roughly 16.5 x 22.5 cm. On original grey paper windowpane mount (24.5 x 35.5 cm). Engraved label (4.5 x 18.5 cm) beneath the print. Good, bright impression, but with damage affecting an area roughly 2.5 x 2 cm in bottom right-hand corner. On lightly aged and spotted mount.

Coloured lithographic dioramic print, captioned 'Morgan's Improved Transformations. The Royal Magic Pear. This Print upon holding before the Light will undergo an entire change and will present [...] the Portraits of the Royal Bride and Bridegroom.'

Author: 
William Morgan, printseller [the Marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, 1840; diorama; dioramic print]
Publication details: 
London. Published by Wm Morgan, 68, Upper Harrison St. Grays Inn Rd. 15th. Feby. 1840.'
£300.00

Dimensions of print roughly 13 x 17.5 cm. On original grey paper windowpane mount (22 x 28.5 cm). Engraved label (3 x 12.5 cm) beneath the print, with small remarque-style Dimensions of print roughly 20 x 14.5 cm. On original grey paper windowpane mount (34 x 24 cm). Engraved label (5 x 19 cm) beneath the print. Worn and discoloured. An usual and attractive item, with a simple picture of a pear which transforms into a portrait of the royal couple, under drapes, when held up to the light.

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