Shakespeare's
Tercentenary April 23 1864

all three bookmarks, held
together at the top with a
gilt bust, to form the favour
 

 

same bookmarks, but woven
in different coloured silk
with different button at the top
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SHAKESPEARE'S
 
TERCENTENARY
APRIL 23
1864
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

BIRTHPLACE

SHAKESPEARE NON   DROICT SANZ

STRATFORD

10.0cm long by 2.3cm wide

 

As can be seen from the image below on the right, the pointed ends have been shaped and hemmed, so there is no room to record any weavers name.

However, apart from the title words at the top of the " Shakespeare " bookmark, all three are identical to the lower part of the three long silks recorded as sb540: Shakespeare. Stratford. Birthplace (set of three narrow ribbons). These three are known to have been woven by STEVENS, so there can be little doubt the favour above was similarly made by Stevens.

 

close up of the two outer bookmarks behind the front Shakespeare silk

view of reverse of these three bookmarks where it can be seen that the pointed ends have been shaped and hemmed.

There is also recorded on this site another STEVENS favour, comprising three silk bookmarks, recorded as sb542: Shakespeare's Tercentenary Commemoration (favour). These three were also issued as seperate bookmarks, and one in particular, sb546: He so Sepulchred in such pomp doth lie / Stratford Church records the bookmark still attached to an early stiff backing paper. Printed on that paper are the words " THE IMPROVED REGISTERED WOVEN SILK BOOK-MARKER. "
It is assumed the reference to " IMPROVED " refers to an improvement on the favours recorded above.
The three bookmarks above, and the gilt bust, do not have the same intricacy and interest as the Shakespeare's Tercentenary Commemoration (favour), and it is not unreasonable to assume the favour above was made first.
It is interesting to note that on the right hand image at the very top of this page, the button holding the woven bookmarks together is the same button as was used in the later versions, recorded as sb542: Shakespeare's / Tercentenary Commemoration (favour).