Primary Sources
What
better way to understand an artist than to read his own papers and view his own
artwork? The following sources are
works illustrated by or written by Cruikshank himself.
The Bee and the
Wasp: a Fable in Verse With Illustrations Designed and Etched by George
Cruikshank. London: Basil Montagu
Pickering, 1861.
RBC PR4705.F655 B4 1861
This is a gorgeous little work with red leather Victorian binding. It is an excellent example of some of Cruikshank’s contemporary works available in the Rare Book Collection.
Cruikshank,
George. The Bottle in 16 Plates.
London: Gowans & Gray,
1906.
DAVIS NC1479.C835 1906
This
is a “reproduced facsimile from the first editions, which were published in
large folio size in 1847 and 1848 and had a very great vogue.”
This is one of Cruikshank’s popular series of etchings depicting the
evils of alcohol. It is a great way
to see how an original edition might have looked.
Cruikshank,
George. Illustrations from the Comic Almanack (1835-1853).
RBC
FOLIO NC1479.C9 C6
This is a bound volume of all Cruikshank
illustrations from the Comic Almanack that appeared between 1835 and 1853.
The Comic Almanack was a satirical periodical to which Cruikshank
regularly contributed his work. Unfortunately,
the context of the journal is missing, as someone has carefully cut out all of
his illustrations and mounted them into this single volume.
It is still a good source to see 19th century examples of his
work.
George
Cruikshank’s papers, 1827-1897.
MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION #11005
This
is “a collection of letters received by George Cruikshank, chiefly about the
temperance movement, invitations to lecture and to attend social events,
requests for assistance and autographs and illustrations for worthy causes;
copies of about thirty letters written by George Cruikshank; manuscript
fragments; scattered references to Cruikshank’s drawings and designs; two
caricature sketches by Cruikshank, possible of Queen Victoria; letters to Mrs.
Eliza Cruikshank.” This
collection is a great source for reading some of Cruikshank’s everyday
thoughts on the temperance movement, if you can decipher his scrawling
handwriting.
The
William A. Whitaker George Cruikshank Collection
RBC
(the majority of this collection is not available through UNC’s online
catalog. You will need to search
the Rare Book Collection card catalog or meet with a Rare Book Librarian to
locate items in this collection)
This
large collection contains over 150 volumes illustrated by or relating to George
Cruikshank. It includes Cruikshank
illustrations from well-known texts including Don Quixote, Robinson Crusoe, and
Oliver Twist. It also includes
individual works of his own, including the The Bottle and his illustrations for
the periodical The Comic Almanack. The
Rare Book Collection is actively building this collection, and it is a wonderful
and extensive collection of primary and secondary sources alike.