Uninvited Guests. "Truant School for Naughty Birds.." c1915

by Evans, Edmund

Antique Print. Dr. Switch points to Gnome school inspector. "Truant School for naughty Birds and Insects who cannot be allowed to go to Parties etc."

Wood engraving by E. Stuart Hardy for The Book of Gnomes, written by Fred E. Weatherly. First edition published in London in 1895 by Ernest Nister. This edition published in 1915 (later hand-colour). Evelyn Stuart Hardy was the pseudonym of Beatrice Evelyn Elizabeth Hardy (1865-1935), who was born in Clifton, Bristol, to a family of artists.

Frederic Edward Weatherly (1848-1929) was a London-based barrister who worked the western circuit to Bristol, and during the first world war pleaded cases for military courts in the Salisbury Plain. Sometimes at night, between appointments, or on the train between trials, he wrote childrens stories, songs and poems - about 3,000... His best known lyrics were for the well-known song, 'Danny Boy' and 'Roses of Picardy'. 

E. Stuart Hardy's illustrations for The Book of Gnomes are some of the most delightful children's illustrations ever done.
On the reverse is a poem entitled 'The Feast' with small brown-printed engravings of Gnomes.

To the border of the image measures 220 x 262mm (8 5/8 x 10 1/2 inches). The usual age-discolouration of paper, which compliments the bushland scenes. Small corner of page missing at lower left.

(Perhaps I have a warped sense of humour, but... Dr Switch with downturned mouth, pointing sideways to the School Inspector who is reprimanding the naughty birds... makes me laugh every time I look at it.)