Writing Blanks

Writing blanks: "also known as 'school pieces' or 'Christmas pieces', these were single sheets printed from copper or wood engravings, issued by print sellers (and, later, children's booksellers), and sold to children across a broad socio-economic spectrum. 'Regularly published at least twice a year', they were intended as a form of sampler, the child filling in the blank space in the centre of a sheet with a set piece in her or his best penmanship. They were sold in book and print shops 'for the use of writing schools, at the vacations of Lady-day-Midsummer-Michaelmas-Christmas, &c.', as well as by street criers. Schools, and, in one recorded example, a workhouse overseer, distributed them.

Published between about 1660 and 1850, these highly ephemeral "school pieces" were increasingly popular in the second half of the eighteenth century, when they were published in large numbers, a development contemporary with the expansion of the children's book trade. Children's booksellers began to issue writing sheets at this time; popular printsellers continued to do so. For some surviving sheets, the engraver and / or the writing master responsible for the design can be identified, although in many cases the former would be the printseller or one of his craftsmen.

Decorated with engravings illustrating lessons in history, geography, natural science, and scripture as well as Aesop's fables and popular works of fiction and verse for children, they provide a valuable record of a widely ranging formal and informal curriculum. Many also show scenes from contemporary life-the wild beasts at the Tower of London, a specific military review or theatre production, a naval battle, or a balloon ascension in Hyde Park, suggesting a juvenile familiarity with and participation in popular culture and current events (political, cultural and social)."
{Source by historical children's book scholar, Jill Shefrin}

All of the images below (from the Oxford Digital Library) were spliced together from ten or more screen shots. Please click through to enlarged versions to see all the detail and help me justify the splicing masochism. The subject metadata is lifted from the Oxford site.

The Origin of the Days of the Week as Deriv'd from
ye Planets Formerly Worship'd on those Days

Calligrapher: George Phillips, 1768
Subjects: Penmanship; Planets; Days; Etymology; Gods; Idols; Generals; Tuisco -- German general; Woden -- god; Thor -- god; Eriga -- god; Seator -- god

Make Busineſs your Delight,
And Idleneſs your (?)Averſion

Dare to speak Truth; nothing deserves a Lie;
The Fault that needs it most, grows (?)true thereby

Read good Books;
And carefully mind what you read.

Labour to attain Virtue and Knowledge;
and remember that Sorrow and Remorse
follow Sloth and Luxury: but from
Temperance, Chaſtity and Regularity of Life flow the most
sensible and lasting Joys

George Phillips, Christmas 1768

The Creation of the World

Author/Publisher: William Belch, 1820
Subjects: God; Eden; Creation; Sin; Penmanship; Adam Biblical figure; Eve Biblical figure; Creation; Angels; Animals; Elephants; Horses; Lions; Cattle; Peacocks; Tigers; Birds; Whales; Ostriches; Turtles; Foxes; Snakes; eye of God

Views of London

Author/Publisher: Robert Harrild, 1814
Subjects: Penmanship; Rivers; Bridges; Rowboats; Spectators; Customs houses; Towers; Banks; Cathedrals; Monuments; Sailboats

Cries of London

Author/Publisher: Robert Laurie and James Whittle, 1802
Subjects: Penmanship; Cries; Cries; Peddlers; Oysters; Chairs; Watchmen; Lanterns; Fish; Toys; Mules; Oranges; Wheelbarrows; Men; Women; Children; Clothing and dress; Vues d'optique; peepshows; shoe laces; primroses; oars

Coronation

Published by William Belch, 1837
Subjects: Coronations; Penmanship; William IV King of Great Britain, 1765-1837; Coronations; Horses; Arms and armament; Kings; Queens; Nobility; Bishops; Rites and ceremonies; Parades and processions; Daggers and swords; Adelaide -- Queen, consort of William IV, King of Great Britain

Grand Review of the Volunteers by His Majesty
in Hyde Park, and the Manual Exercise

Author/Publisher: Robert Laurie and James Whittle, 1803
Subjects: Penmanship; Military education; Military inspections; Kings; Military training; Bayonets; Military uniforms

Capt. Cook's Last Voyage to the Pacific Ocean

Written and published by Edward Langley [undated]
Subjects: Penmanship; Cook, James, 1728-1779; Indigenous peoples; Homicides; Penguins; Shooting; Sea lions; Seas; Dancing; Canoes; Islands; Sailing ships; killing of penguins

Emblems for the Improvement of Youth

Printer/publisher: John Farrell, 1784
Subjects: Penmanship; Education; Donkeys; Desks; Whips; Laziness; Women; Urns; Scrolls; Angels; Mothers and children; Trees; Flowers; Chickens; Reading; Lamps; Cranes (birds); elephants; Saints; Kings; blindfolded boy; quill

The Entertaining History of Robin Hood, & Little John, & c.

Author/Publisher: Robert Laurie and James Whittle, 1809
Subjects: Penmanship; Robin Hood (Legendary character); Dancing; Forests; Eating and drinking; Musicians; Bows (archery); Shooting; Homicides; Fighting; Monks; Death; Convents

Flora's Fancy

Publisher unknown, undated
Subjects: Penmanship; Gardens; Flowers; Arbors (bowers); Cupids; Orchids; Tulips; Roses; Carnations; broom (plant); convolvulus; Flora

Forty thieves, or The story of Ali Baba and his female slave Morgiana;
Taken from the Arabian Nights Entertainments

Published by Robert Laurie and James Whittle, 1803
Subjects: Penmanship; Ali Baba (Legendary character); Gangs; Caves; Treasure-trove; Gold; Poisons; Tambourines; Homicides; Marriage; Morgiana; Cassim; Mustapha

Great Britain's Wealth & Glory

Engraved by N Carr; undated; publisher unknown
Subjects: Penmanship; Commerce; East India Company; South Sea Company; Mercury (Roman deity); Coats of arms; Seas; Sailing ships; Barrels; Customs houses; Banks; Post offices; Globes; Worshipful companies

Joan of Arc

Published by J Phelps & W Belch, 1828
Subjects: Orléans (France); History; Siege; 1428-1429; Penmanship; Banners; Women martyrs; Joan of Arc, Saint, 1412-1431; Banners; Bishops; Cathedrals; Clergy; Daggers and swords; Arms and armament; Horses; Wounds and injuries; Prisoners; Burning at the stake

Infantile Sports

Author/Publisher: Robert Laurie and James Whittle, 1801
Subjects: Marbles (Game); Tops; Penmanship; Blind man's bluff; Dolls; Toys; Masks; Chickens; Kites; Vues d'optique; Games; Children playing; Children playing with marbles; Children jumping

Marine Views

Author/Publisher: Robert Harrild, 1814
Subjects: Penmanship; Sailing ships; Seas; Rowboats; Lighthouses; Boat and ship industry; Launchings; frigate

Craneing Goods on Shore**

Author/Publisher: Carington Bowles, 1782
Subjects: Penmanship; Commerce; Britannia; Harbors; Piers and wharves; Hoisting machinery; Lions; Banks; cash book; day book; ledger; clerks

**Here's the same illustration with the removed text in the writing field

Rural Occupations

Published in Ireland by William Allen, undated
Subjects: Agriculture; Penmanship; Country life; Plowing; Sheep shearing; Waterwheels; Threshing; Harvesting; Men; Women; hay making

Royal Standard of the United Kingdom

Author/Publisher: RH Laurie, 1821
Subjects: East India Company; Prints -- 19th century; Emblems, National; Neptune (Roman deity); Coats of arms; Lions; Unicorns; Sailors; Sailing ships; Flags; royal coat of arms



All the images in this post were spliced together from illustrations available from "Writing Blanks, Board Games and other Educational Games of the 18th and 19th centuries from the John Johnson and Harding Collections" at the Oxford University Digital Library.

Previously: kids, ephemera.

Santeria

Santeria (or La Regla Lucumi or Regla de Ocha) is an Afro-Cuban religion that combines the traditional belief systems of the Yoruba peoples of Nigeria and Benin with elements of Catholicism. It arose in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when the slave trade brought many of these people to the shores of Cuba, Brazil, Haiti, Trinidad and Puerto Rico. The slaves were expected to adopt the Catholic religion, which they did, but with a twist: they incorporated the Saints among their traditional deities or Orisha (Oricha).

"Santería is based upon the development of personal relationships through divination, sacrifice, initiation, and mediumship between practitioners of the religion and the Orisha deities, who provide their devotees with protection, wisdom, and success and who guide devotees in times of crisis. Most Ifá consultations prescribe some form of sacrifice to one or several of the Orishas. These offerings may range from simple presentations before home altars to elaborate feasts in the Orishas’ honour." [source]

The illustrations below are from a set of seventeen lithographs of Orisha by Alberto del Pozo from about the 1980s, courtesy of University of Miami Digital Libraries [Oricha Collection].




The blacksmith god of metal and war, Ogun is the implaccable enemy of his brother Chango. Whenever they meet they duel. He lives deep within the earth, and is represented by a three-footed pot with nine to twenty one iron utensils that symbolise smithies and industry. The machete is also his symbol. A hard working and unforgiving god, Ogun must never be invoked in vain, and if lied to he punishes severely. He accepts offerings of tobacco, avocados, and lamb.




Orula is the father of time and lord of divination. His other names are Ifa and Orumbila. He owns ate ifa, the sacred board, and okuele, the sacred chain, which babalawos and yllalochas (priests and priestesses) must consult to view the future.




Queen of the waters, Yemayá is the mother of all Orichas. A siren at sea, on land she becomes an amazing beauty adorned with the manifold treasures of the deep. Her conduct is impeccable, and she is the ultimate protector of the faithful. Her messenger is a mouse and a serpent her constant companion.




Symbolizing peace and harmony, Ochumare is the god of the rainbow, the link between heaven and earth.




Among the most ancient of the Orishas Echú Eleguá is the messenger of the gods, who forges roads, protects the house, and is heaven's gate-keeper. In any ceremony he is invoked first. He owns all cowrie shells and is the god of luck. A prankster, Echú Eleguá frequently has a monkey and a black rooster by his side. Like a mischievous boy he enjoys gossip and must be pampered with offerings of toys, fruit, and candy.




Extremely handsome, Changó is a fearless warrior. He is the god of thunder and fire and is notorious as a woman chaser and superb dancer. He is also a great seer and healer. The royal palm, which is the symbol of his divinity, is also his home and throne.




Living in the cemetery, Yewa is the goddess of death and mistress of all souls. She is deeply respected and feared.




Also known as Yansa, Oya is Changó's third wife. She is the goddess of the winds and of lightning and is mistress of the cemetery gates. Passionate and brave she fights by her husband's side if needed. Her favorite offerings are papaya, eggplant and geraniums.




Ibeyi are Taibo and Kainde, the twin sons of Changó and Ochún. Princes of mischief, they sometimes disguise themselves as little girls. They represent fortune and good luck, and must always remain tied together to avoid losing their power.

"Visual artist Alberto del Pozo (1945-1992) was born in Santa Clara, Cuba. With his parents, he was exiled to the United States in 1961. He attended Coral Gables High School in Miami and Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. From 1970 to 1975, he worked as a costume and set designer for Brooks Van Horn. Returning to Miami in 1976, he dedicated himself to his art. Del Pozo died in Miami at age 46 in 1992."

There are about twenty five Orichas in the Santería pantheon, 17 of which were depicted by del Pozo in this series: The Orichas Collection at the University of Miami Digital Libraries.