Skelt and Webb toy theater collection. - Webb, W. G. (William George), 1821-1890.; Skelt, M. (Martin), -1840.; Skelt, M. (Matthew), -1850.; Skelt, B. (Ben), -1862.; M. & M. Skelt (Firm); M. & B. Skelt (Firm)
This collection contains much of the contents of William George Webb's (and a competitor that he worked under and eventually succeeded, Martin Skelt's) workshop when it ultimately closed in the 1880s. Webb was one of the last major publishers of juvenile theaters, which allowed children to stage plays at their home, coming complete with a condensed play script, different scenes and backdrops, and figures from the play that the children could cut out, color, and use to act out the action of the play itself. The collection contains lithographic stones, copper plates, prints from these items, woodblocks, metal dyes and tools for working with decorative foil, magic lantern slides and other miscellaneous material.
Collection is arranged by series, with each series representing a different type of material, and boxes are numbered sequentially within each series with a letter designating the series followed by a box number. The series and the collection codes are: lithographic stones (S), metal dyes and tools (T), copper plates (C), figures (F), printed plays (W), manuscript material and drawings (MD), prints for scenes, character sheets, etc (P), woodblocks (B), duplicate prints (D), and miscellaneous material (M).
Contact curator for access to images of material and for finding aid. Printed images are available for consultation in the Cotsen office. Finding aid consists of excel spreadsheet arranged according to series and box list.
Keywords: lantern slides -- England -- 19th century; Toy theaters; Toy theaters -- England -- 19th century -- Equipment and supplies; Children's plays, English -- 19th century; Dyeing machinery; Block printing -- Equipment and supplies -- England -- 19th century; Lithography -- Equipment and supplies -- England -- 19th century; Intaglio printing -- Equipment and supplies -- England -- 19th century; Webb, Henry James