1492 - 1892

400th Anniversary
in Commemoration of the discovery of America 1492
Columbus . .
eagle on shield & flag either side

In God we Trust

Reference Number:- Darby Number:- Godden Number:-
sb 12 not recorded not recorded
 

 
Words and image of Columbus arriving in America with Star Spangled banner, with Mannion name on reverse
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Words and image of Columbus arriving in America with Star Spangled banner, with Mannion name on reverse

Words:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

1492 - 1892
400th
ANNIVERSARY
IN COMMEMORATION
OF THE DISCOVERY OF
AMERICA 1492

 
 
 

image of Columbus
and his men landing
in America.

 

LANDING OF COLUMBUS
OCT 12TH 1492

 

image of eagle on shield
& flag either side

 
 
 

IN GOD
WE
TRUST

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
same bookmark but with no weavers name
Size of Silk:
17.8cm long by 6.4cm wide
Alternative back-ground colours:
white 
Comments:
Three images are given above, the one in the centre has the J.J. Mannion name as the weaver; the one on the right has no weavers name:
 
The bookmark in the centre has the J. J. Mannion weavers name woven on the top turn-over.

Mannion's name woven on reverse

J. J. Mannion was believed to be Stevens' agent in the USA, and as a consequence, all Mannion Columbus bookmarks are attributed to Stevens.

Whilst Mannion might have been an agent of Stevens, it is possible they were agents too for other weavers. It is also quite possible Mannion was a weavers in his own right, or even had others weave on his behalf. There is unfortunately no evidence to direct any of these possibilities.

Only some of these Columbus silk bookmarks are included in the Stevens' Family Album preserved at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry, and although this particular design is not included, nevertheless, all such designs have been attributed to Stevens.

I have concerns as to such generalisations, and until such time as this particular design is positively identified to Stevens, it is recorded here as if it were of his manufacture.

The bookmark on the right does not have a weavers name.

As can be seen though from the scanned imaged (above right), this bookmark is still attached to the original backing paper.

Original backing paper

This original backing paper reads "Souvenir / Columbian Celebration / New York October 8th to 13th, 1892 / Woven in Pure Silk.

These Columbus bookmarks are normally attributed to Stevens as they were assumed to have been produced at the Columbian Exposition, which opened on 1 May 1893, and at which Stevens is thought to have had a loom operational.

This silk though was made in the October of the previous year - some 6 months earlier - and there is no evidence that Stevens attended that Columbian Celebration.

There are a number of silk pictures and portrait recorded on this site which are definitely Stevens designs, but with Mannion's name printed on the card matt, and evidence would suggest these were made before 1892.
It is possible that Mannion imported these silks, and this bookmark too which he attached to the Columbian Celebration backing paper. It is also possible that Stevens bought over his own loom to the USA at an earlier date, and all these silks and bookmarks were woven in the States.

The bookmark on the left has been added after the narrative above. It will be noticed that the banding at the very top of this silk is different to the bookmark in the centre; it being a single red straight line, whilst the centre one has a three colour rope effect.

Apart from this minor difference, the actual bookmark is identical to the 1892 one, but as can be seen the stiff backing paper is of the " LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION ", held in 1904.
There is recorded on this catalogue four silk bookmarks with the " 1492 - 1892 400th Anniversary " title, and of these, three are also recorded with the " LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION " backing paper.
It is perhaps a testament that these bookmark designs were still popular after 12 years. Unfortunately, a detailed internet search of the participants at this Exposition failed to reveal the presence of either Stevens or Mannion.



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This page was created on 12 February 2006
Additonal image of silk with Mannion name added 28 January 2007. Image of Mannion bookmark replaced with improved version on 7 November 2016. The Louisiana Purchase bookmark added 18 March 2022

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