Archive for August, 2020
Something A Little Different: Furrowed Middlebrow Books: Summer 2020
Posted by womanandhersphere in furrowed middlebrow on August 28, 2020
It has been my pleasure to write forewords to a few of the novels reissued in August 2020 by Dean Street Press under their ‘Furrowed Middlebrow’ imprint. The theme this summer is ‘The Village’.
A major part of my commission is to uncover something of the lives of authors who, often very popular in their heyday, have subsequently disappeared beneath the waves of the rolling literary tide. One such is Celia Buckmaster – whose life has something of a novel quality. She would have made a good heroine.
Although the other two novelists I’ve ‘resurrected’ are both named ‘Dorothy’, their backgrounds were very different. The novels of both were well-received by critics and well-loved by readers during the interwar period and well into the 1950s.
Needless to say, reading these novels, all quite delightful, and pondering on the lives of their authors, provided a welcome escape from our national predicament. One is never quite ‘locked-down’ when the imagination can roam freely.
Collecting Suffrage: Questions To Lloyd George Asked By The Women’s Social And Political Union
Posted by womanandhersphere in Collecting Suffrage on August 26, 2020
A leaflet on which the WSPU set out eleven questions concerning Lloyd George’s behaviour in introducing a Government measure for Manhood Suffrage in 1913.
Among the many other pertinent questions: ‘Why do you expect us to accept your personal and unofficial advocacy of Woman Suffrage as a substitute for united and official action on the part of the Government as a whole?
Two-sided leaflet, printed in purple. In good condition – some creasing. £100
If interested in buying – email me – elizabeth.crawford2017@outlook.com
Collecting Suffrage: 1907 Programme For ‘Votes for Women’, Play By Elizabeth Robins
Posted by womanandhersphere in Collecting Suffrage on August 19, 2020
4-page programme for one of the 8 matinée performances of this so-popular play, staged in April and May 1907 at the Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, under the joint management of John Vedrenne and Harley Granville Barker.
The programme includes the cast list, of course, and a notice that ‘At these Matinées, Ladies are earnestly requested to remove Hats, Bonnets, or any kind of head dress. This rule is framed for the benefit of the audience…’
Kate Frye (suffrage diarist) saw the play on 16 April and wrote a long entry that night in her diary where, including, amongst other comments, ‘I loved the piece – it is quite fine – most cleverly written and the characters are so well drawn. Needless to say the acting was perfection as it generally is at the Court Theatre and the second act – the meeting in Trafalgar Square – ought to draw the whole of London. I was besides myself with excitement over it ‘
This programme belonged to Isabel Seymour, an early worker in the WSPU Clement’s Inn office, She folded the programme into her pocket or handbag and then kept it for the rest of her life.
In good condition – extremely scarce £500
Email me if interested in buying – elizabeth.crawford2017@outlook.com
THIS ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE MY COPYRIGHT.
PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU WISH TO USE ANYTHING POSTED HERE.
Women And The First World War: Munition Workers
Posted by womanandhersphere in women and the first world war on August 17, 2020
Munition workers – mainly women -pose for the photographer. They are wearing their caps and the triangular-shaped munition workers badge can be seen pinned to many of the overall dresses. Young men sit at the front – displaying the fruits of their labours – shells.
The card bears the imprint of the Belle Vue Studios, Bradford – which was one of the best-known in the city and was in business until 1985. There’s no clue as to the name of the factory in the photograph but there were a number of munitions factories in Bradford, including the Low Moor munitions factory that suffered a large explosion in 1916.
In very good condition – appears to have been cut down by about 1 cm at some time – unposted £35 +VAT (UK and EU)
Collecting Suffrage: The WSPU Holloway Prison Brooch
Posted by womanandhersphere in Uncategorized on August 13, 2020
The Holloway Prison brooch was designed by Sylvia Pankhurst and awarded to members of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) who had been imprisoned. It was first mentioned in the WSPU paper, ‘Votes for Women’, on 16 April 1909 and was described as ‘the Victoria Cross of the Union’. [It pre-dated the Hunger-Strike medal]. The design of the brooch is of the portcullis symbol of the House of Commons, the gate and hanging chains are in silver, and the superimposed broad arrow (the convict symbol) is in purple, white and green enamel. The piece is marked ‘silver’ and carries the maker’s name – Toye & Co, London, who were also responsible for the hunger strike medals. This brooch is for sale. Such treasures of the suffrage movement are now very scarce. It is in fine condition.
SOLD
Email me if you are interesting in buying. elizabeth.crawford2017@outlook.com
Collecting Suffrage: The Women’s Guild Of Empire
Posted by womanandhersphere in Collecting Suffrage on August 12, 2020
The Women’s Guild of Empire organised a demonstration at a critical time just before the General Strike in April 1926. Here we see Flora Drummond supervising the making of the banners that were to be paraded on the Day. The march brought together ‘wives of working men who have had personal experience of strikes’ (as Elsie Bowerman wrote to the editor of ‘The Spectator‘) from all regions of the country, culminating in an Albert Hall meeting, chaired by Mrs Drummond.
A scarce and unusual image – a postcard In fine, unposted, condition SOLD
email me if interested in buying elizabeth.crawford2017@outlook.com
Collecting Suffrage: ‘Punch’ Cartoon, 17 January 1906
Posted by womanandhersphere in Collecting Suffrage on August 11, 2020
Punch cartoon from the issue for 17 January 1906. ‘The Shrieking Sister’. The Sensible Woman (with her fur stole around her neck) addresses the dishevelled ‘suffragette’ (with a ‘Female Suffrage’ flag tied to her umbrella) – ‘You – help our cause? Why, you’re its worst enemy!’ They are standing outside a hall that advertises ‘Great Liberal Meeting’.
Mrs Pankhurst’s Women’s Social and Political Union had recently appeared on the national scene. Just over two months previously Christabel Pankhurst and Annie Kenney had been imprisoned after interrupting a Liberal party meeting – and this is how the WSPU is now personified. The General Election, which resulted in a Liberal landslide, was in full swing when the cartoon was published.
A full-page Bernard Partridge cartoon. SOLD
If interested in buying, do email me elizabeth.crawford2017@outlook.com
Collecting Suffrage: Photographs Of The Equal Rights Rally, 3 July 1926
Posted by womanandhersphere in Collecting Suffrage on August 10, 2020
Two snapshots – taken at the rally by John Collins, Kate Frye’s husband.
Here’s an excerpt from Kate’s diary entry for the day, as reproduced in Campaigning for the Vote: Kate Parry Frye’s suffrage diary (now out of print).
Saturday July 3rd 1926 [London: Flat C, 57 Leinster Square]
[After lunch] changed, off with J[ohn] – bus to Marble Arch and walked to Hyde Park Corner. Sat a little then saw the procession of women for Equal franchise rights and to the various meetings and groups. Heard Mrs Pankhurst and she was quite delightful. Also saw Ada Moore – getting very old. Saw Mrs Despard 82 and walked all the way. And the Actresses’ Franchise League.
The tiny snapshots show women and men walking into Hyde Park, with banners. If anyone else was taking photos that day, they do not seem to have made their way into public collections. Very good – very scarce. £20 the two together.
Do email me if you’re interested in buying these shadows of the past. elizabeth.crawford2017@outlook.com
SOLD
Collecting Suffrage: Women’s Social And Political Union Brooch
Posted by womanandhersphere in Uncategorized on August 7, 2020
A silver and enamel Women’s Social and Political Union brooch. It was Sold to raise funds for the WSPU and was made by Toye and Co of Clerkenwell Road, London, the firm that made the WSPU’s hunger-strike medal. There is so much spurious material sold as ‘suffragette jewellery’; this is the Real Thing.
The brooch dates from between 1908 and 1914 and is in fine condition. It’s very scarce – and ready to wear.
For sale: £900 + VAT (in Uk and EU).
Email me if interested: Elizabeth.crawford2017@outlook.com
Collecting Suffrage: ‘Punch’ Cartoon, 21 October 1908
Posted by womanandhersphere in Collecting Suffrage on August 6, 2020
Punch cartoon, 21 October, 1908. Two burglars on their way to ‘suburban night-work’ watch a line of policemen marching the opposite way, into Town, to deal with the Votes for Women demonstration advertised on the poster.
The burglars agree that the ‘sufferajits’ are a good thing, keeping the police occupied as they do. This was the time of the ‘Rush the House of Commons’ demo.
FOR SALE – Full page cartoon by Bernard Partridge. Fine condition £12 SOLD
Collecting Suffrage: The Church League For Women’s Suffrage Paper
Posted by womanandhersphere in Books And Ephemera For Sale, Collecting Suffrage on August 5, 2020
The paper of the Church League for Women’s Suffrage was published monthly from January 1912. This is the issue for 9 September 1912. Issues of the paper are scarce and this one is in good condition for its age – packed with information. For sale – SOLD
If interested email me: elizabeth.crawford2017@outlook.com
Woman and her Sphere 