George Cruikshank collection, 1833/1872

Location of collection:

Virginia Commonwealth University, Cabell Library

James Branch Cabell Library

Virginia Commonwealth University

P.O. Box 842003

901 Park Avenue

Richmond, VA 23284-2003

Contact for questions and access:

POC: SCA Staff

Email: libjbcsca@vcu.edu

Phone: (804) 828-1108

Fax: (804) 828-0151

Web: library.vcu.edu/research-teaching/special-collections-and-archives

Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

George Cruikshank collection, Collection # M 193, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.

Summary

Extent:

16 Items

Creator:

Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878

Language:

English .

Preferred citation:

George Cruikshank collection, Collection # M 193, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection is comprised of eight sketches and notes by Cruikshank dated 1833, 1845, 1852, 1874, and undated. The collection also contains seven autographed letters to Cruikshank, and one un-mailed mourning envelope addressed in Cruikshank's hand, with his signature for return address. The letters total 13 pages are on matters of business, arrangements for printing his drawings, passes to exhibits of his works, and the like, 1860-1872. Special Collections and Archives also has a significant collection of books illustrated by George Cruikshank -- many of which were published in the 19th century.

Biographical / historical:

George Cruikshank, son of caricaturist Isaac Cruikshank, was born in London, England in 1792 and died there in 1878. He began his career as a social/political caricaturist in 1811. Between 1819 and 1821, Cruikshank produced a series of colored etchings followed by a collection of comic stories in four volumes. He was considered the foremost illustrator of such classics as Grimms' Fairy Tales, Scott's novels and Dicken's Oliver Twist. In 66 years of work, Cruikshank illustrated more than 200 books. His work, wrote one reviewer of a biography of Cruikshank, "recorded, commented on, and satirized his times to such an extent that they have frequently been used to represent the age."

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Illustrators -- Great Britain