Paull, Margaret Agnes, The history of Little Fanny, illustrated by M.A. Colvile ... Craigflower, 1845
- Title(s):
- The history of Little Fanny, illustrated by M.A. Colvile ... Craigflower.
- Published/Created:
- Scotland, 1845.
- Physical Description:
- 1 v. (16 p.) ; 16 cm. + 8 illustrated cut-out figures
- Holdings:
- Rare Books and ManuscriptsPR3991.A1 H587 1845Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon FundView by request in the Study Room [Request]
Note: The Study Room is open by appointment. Please visit the Study Room page on our website for more details. - Copyright Status:
- Copyright Not Evaluated
- Full Orbis Record:
- http://hdl.handle.net/10079/bibid/9719100
- Classification:
- Archives & Manuscripts
- Notes:
- The British novelist Margaret Agnes Paul (1829-1905) authored over 20 books in the latter half of the 19th century (using the name M.A. Paull in her published works). She was the daughter of the Hon. Louisa Mary Eden and Andrew (Wedderburn) Colvile, Governor of the Hudson Bay Company. The family resided at Craiglower House, in Fife & Kinross, Scotland. On 11 December 1856, she married the publisher and author (Charles) Kegan Paul, with whom she had five children.
The History of Little Fanny, exemplified in a series of figures, was first published in 1810 by S. & J. Fuller. The work has been attributed to Amelia Troward Girdlestone (cf. Osborne Coll. II, 1052). It included what is thought to be the first commercially popular paper doll. It told a story in verse, centered on the character represented by the paper doll. The character wore a specific outfit in each episode of the verse; thus, as the book was read, the doll was supposed to be dressed in the appropriate attire. Fanny is at first an 'idle' girl whose chief activity is playing with her dolls. When her mother refuses to accompany her to the park, she escapes with her maid and is soon robbed of her clothes. She appears next as a beggar girl and slowly works her way out of poverty and into different outfits until she is able to return to her mother. In the end, Fanny has learned her lesson and appears reading a book instead of playing with a doll.
Provenance: Craigflower House; Roger Warner Collection (2009).
Bound in contemporary beige paper wrappers, with pink paper spine and corners. The front cover bears the initials EM, 1845.
Manuscript version of The history of Little Fanny, probably copied and illustrated by Margaret Agnes Paull (née Colvile), of Craigflower. The manuscript could also be the work of Margaret's mother, Mary Louisa Eden Colvile. The text is written in neat pen and black ink. It is accompanied by cut-out paper dolls, illustrated in pen and ink with watercolor, depicting Fanny and seven costumes in which to dress her. The manuscript's verse is clearly based on that of the published version, with minor variations. The illustrated dolls, however, show greater variance in form compared to those of the published version of the work. - Subject Terms:
- Colvile, Mary Louisa Eden, 1788-1858, associated name.Costume -- Juvenile literature.Girls -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile poetry.Paper dolls -- Specimens.Paull, Margaret Agnes.Toy and movable books -- Specimens.
- Form/Genre:
- Juvenile literature
Paper dolls.
Toy books.
Recreations. - Export:
- XML