Souvenir of the discovery of America

Landing of Columbus Oct 12th 1492

Reference Number:- Darby Number:- Godden Number:-
sb 1848 437 not listed
 

IMAGE A
 
Very similar bookmark, with
different writing in middle
and different layout of
The Santa Maria
 
Bookmark with words, image of Columbus and his men landing in America, an image of The Santa Maria, and a portrait of Columbus
IMAGE B
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bookmark with words, image of Columbus and his men landing in America, an image of The Santa Maria, and a portrait of Columbus
the image of this bookmark
was kindly donated by
Jim Steinhauer, USA
Words:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SOUVENIR
OF THE DISCOVERY
OF AMERICA.
 
 
 

image of Columbus and his men
landing in America

 
 

LANDING OF COLUMBUS
OCT 12th 1492

 
 
 
 

Portrait of Columbus

with flags

 
 
 
 
 

COLUMBUS

 
 
 

image of his ship

THE
SANTA
MARIA

 
 
Size of Silk:
24.0 cm long by 7.0 cm wide
Alternative back-ground colours:
 
Comments:

by Geoffrey Godden:
Godden does not list this silk, although he includes a picture of IMAGE B within the Stevens Presentation Volume (page 36 of his book).

Other comments:
Neither of these silks have the Stevens name on it.

Below are two smaller image versions of the main IMAGE B above. Both these smaller images are shown with the stiff backing paper to which they were originally attached. Both silk bookmarks themselves are identical, but the image to the left has the STEVENS name printed on the paper, whilst the one on the right has slightly different words, but no makers name.

From research conducted by past members of the Stevengraph Collectors Association, we believe that J.J. Mannion exhibited at the same Exposition as Stevens, and probably had a loom working too. It is however believed that Mannion's loom was actually using Stevens cards. Stiff backing papers with the words " SOUVENIR WOVEN AT THE . . ." were identified as having been made by Stevens. Those papers however with the words " SOUVENIR OF DISCOVERY . . ." were attributed to Mannion.

As can be seen, this research analysis applies to the two small images below. As however the actual silks are identical, it is not possible to say whether Stevens made the IMAGE B bookmark.

As an aside, also recorded on this site is a silk bookmark almost identical to IMAGE B. The only difference being that in the wording below the image of the men landing, " COLUMBUS " has the letter " L " missing in the alternative version (see sb 1849 on this site). It would seem that this alternative was perhaps an earlier version of the bookmark, and once the spelling error was discovered, it was re-issued as the more common version above.

Whilst IMAGE B is identified as of either Stevens', or his agent Mannion's, manufacture, the same cannot be said of IMAGE A. Whilst the design and wording are identical, the printing font used in the wording beneath the image of the men landing, and the layout of the words " THE SANTA MARIA " at the bottom of the bookmark are both different.

Does this mean that IMAGE A on the left is a variant produced by the same weaver? Or is it produced by a different weaver?

same bookmark along side the original stiff backing paper used to support the bookmark in the post  same bookmark along side the original stiff backing paper used to support the bookmark in the post
same bookmark along side an extract showing the top of the original STEVENS
stiff backing paper used to support the bookmark in the post
same bookmark along side the original stiff backing paper used to support the bookmark in the post
same bookmark along side the original
Exposition stiff backing paper used to
support the bookmark in the post

FINAL NOTE: that all these different bookmarks, whilst of the same design and layout, all have different tops.
One has a single blue line at the very top (Image A).
One has a red, white and blue rope effect top (Image B).
The two versions associated with backing papers both have red, white and blue rectangles.
There are other Souvenir bookmarks recorded on this site, some with the Stevens backing paper. All three different designs of top occur on these other bookmarks, and it is evident Stevens did not use just one design.

 


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This page was created on 30 January 2003
Additional image and comment added 1 June 2003, and revised 1 May 2016. Wording changed to reflect the recording of bookmark sb1849. © Peter Daws - Stevengraph-Silks