Object No.
97/132/1Object Statement
Book, alphabet, hand-drawn, hand-coloured, paper / textile, made by William Harrison, Australia, 1894, used by Maggie Harrison, Twerton on Avon, Bath, England, 1894Physical Description
This hand-drawn and hand-coloured children's alphabet features pen and ink and water colour drawings. The book is cloth bound with the inscription on the cover : ABC Maggie Harrison 1894. Inside front cover is inscription : Miss Maggie Harrison Argyle Terrace Twerton on Avon England Bath. On facing page is globe showing England at top and Australia at bottom with ribbon with inscription : Maggie from Uncle Will 1894. British and Australian coat of arms have been drawn at opposite corners. The title page has inscription : Maggie's ABC.
Inside each page has a hand-drawn and coloured letter of the alphabet with accompanying illustration. Thus A : Apple, Ant, Australia has drawing of apple orchard and apples with tiny ants in the foreground. Australian/British themes are preserved throughout. After the alphabet comes a clock surrounded by examples of colours, numbers from 1 to 12, the alphabet in upper case, the alphabet in lower case, the months of the year and directions on a compass and finally 'Evening Prayer'. The last page illustrates a collection of children's toys including Noah's Ark, a boat and sailor doll, ball and doll.Marks
Inscriptions, front cover, top left, hand printed black ink "ABC", front cover, bottom right, hand printed black ink "Maggie Harrison/1894", inside front cover, top left, hand printed black ink "Miss Maggie Harrison/Argyle Terrace/TWERTON on AVON/ENGLAND, BATH".