Category Archives: Christmas Countdown

11th December – 24th Dec 1889 Gertrude Bell Letter

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Letter dated 24th December 1889, from Gertrude Bell to her mother, Dame Florence Bell

Letter dated 24th December 1889, from Gertrude Bell to her mother, Dame Florence Bell

Letter dated 24th December 1889, from Gertrude Bell to her mother, Dame Florence Bell

Letter dated 24th December 1889, from Gertrude Bell to her mother, Dame Florence Bell

Letter dated 24th December 1889, from Gertrude Bell to her mother, Dame Florence Bell.

[1 December 1889] “Dec 1. Dearest Mother. It is so cold and grey here today, I’m afraid you must be having a cold journey. The little girls and I went out before lunch and walked towards Kirkleatham by the fields coming back by the road. They came up into my room where I made them some Turkish coffee after lunch, they then disappeared into the schoolroom – I expect to see them again shortly. They had supper with me last night, by which they were much amused. Yesterday was lovely, I went for a long walk in the afternoon while the children were at their show.

I have read Swinburne’s Jonson which I will keep for you, it is quite excellent. I should very much like for a Christmas present Jonson’s works edited by Gifford in 3 vols, not big ones I think. There are some of his masques I want very much to read and I don’t think they are to be found anywhere else.

I wonder when Papa is coming home, I half expect him on Wednesday night. The little girls think it is a great pity you are coming back so soon, because we are so comfortable! We shall be delighted to have you, though; one’s own society palls after a time.

We had a capital cooking lesson yesterday, made scones and gingerbread and boiled potatoes. The scones were excellent, I am sure you will like them. Ever your very affectionate daughter Gertrude.

I am telling Bumpus to send Cassell’s dictionary to Sloane St for you to bring home. Miss Thomson wants it. The Italian is marching[?] finely!”

To view more of Gertrude Bell’s letters, diaries and photographs, take a look at the Gertrude Bell website.

This letter is part of the Gertrude Bell archive. Take a look at the Gertrude Bell Collection to find out more about the book collection that formed part of Gertrude Bell’s working library.

9th December – ‘Christmas Camp’ from the Courier

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'Christmas Camp'

‘Christmas Camp’ extract taken from the Courier dated 24th January 1962

An extract about the Durham University Air Squadron holding a Christmas Camp at Royal Air Force station in Ouston, from the 24th January 1962 edition of the Courier.

To find out more about the history of the Courier, visit here.

Click here to view this December article in full. The Courier archive has also been digitised and is available online here.

8th December – Christmas Tree Land

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Illustration from 'Christmas Tree Land'

Illustration from ‘Christmas Tree Land‘ by Mrs Molesworth, 1891, titled ‘See, Rollo,’ cried Maia; ‘see, there is our Christmas tree.’ (Chorley 133)

Illustration taken from ‘Christmas Tree Land’, by Mrs Moleswoth. Illustrated by Walter Crane

‘See, Rollo,’ cried Maia; ‘see, there is our Christmas tree.’
    And there it was – the most beautiful they had yet seen – all radiant with light and glistening with every pretty present child-hearted could desire.’ (pg. 221)

The story tells of two children, Rollo and Maia, who arrive in a land of Christmas trees and their adventures in the white castle, the fir-woods, the mysterious cottage and many more.

This book is part of the Sarah Chorley Collection.

7th December – Skating and Sliding

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'Skating and Sliding' front cover

‘Skating and Sliding‘ front cover, by J.G. Wood et. al (796.91 WOO)

‘Skating and Sliding‘ by the Reverend J.G. Wood and other writers is an example of the series which also treated such subjects as cricket, manly exercises, fireworks, swimming and conjuring. This particular manual takes learners through the history of skating, putting skates on, how to start from the inside edge and progresses to various skating figures, such as the Dutch Roll and the Figure of Three. It quotes three maxims attributed to renowned skater Robert Ferguson: “Throw fear to the dogs”, “Put on your skates securely” and “Keep your balance”!

Skating and Sliding is from the 19th Century Collection. To read more about this book, click here.

6th December – King Pantomime at the Playhouse: Four Holiday Pieces

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'King Pantomime at the Playhouses: Four Holiday Pieces'

‘King Pantomime at the Playhouses: Four Holiday Pieces’ from Illustrated London News, 1904

Page from Illustrated London News, Vol. 125, 1904 (030 ILL), dated 31st December 1904

The page contains sketches by Ralph Cleaver of costumes for 4 pantomimes. Left to right as follows:

“Red Riding-Hood” at the Coronet Theatre
“Red Riding-Hood” at the King’s Theatre, Hammersmith
“Aladdin” at The Kennington Theatre
“The Forty Thieves” at The Fulham Theatre

Illustrated London News is part of our 20th Century Collection. You can find this volume and other Illustrated London News here.

4th December – WWI Honour Envelope from Thomas Baker Brown

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Honour Envelope

Honour envelope from letter sent by Thomas Baker Brown to his father on Christmas Day (TBB/1/1/1/1/114-8)

Honour envelope letter sent by Thomas Baker Brown to his father on Christmas Day, dated 25th December 1916.

Thomas Baker Brown, born 22nd December 1896, a soldier who fought in World War I. In December 1915, Thomas Baker Brown was serving in the ‘Clerks Platoon’ for the 6th Northumberland Fusiliers at a training camp at Scarcroft School, York. As a soldier, or “tommy”, training would begin with basic physical fitness, drill, march discipline and essential field craft. Tommies would later specialise in a role and Brown received training in bombing, signalling and musketry. He suffered from poor eyesight and was issued with glasses. After failing to be transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, Brown was placed into the signalling section and later drafted to France alongside his brother George, as part of the 2/6th Northumberland Fusiliers, 32nd Division.

By the 1st August 1916, Brown was moved to the 21st Northumberland Fusiliers (2nd Tyneside Scottish 37th Division) and was sent on his first journey to the front line trenches. Later, in March 1917, Brown was awarded the Military Medal for his ‘heroism’ and ‘bravery’.

In 1918, he was taken prisoner by German soldiers and placed in a prisoner of war camp in Dülmen and later transferred to Limburg.

Find the letter in our collections here. Explore the rest of the Thomas Baker Brown collection here.

2nd December – 1892 Kate Greenaway Almanack

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'Winter' illustration

‘Winter’ illustration from Kate Greenaway’s 1892 Almanack (030 GRE)

Beautiful Winter illustration taken from Kate Greenaway’s Almanack for 1892 – Engraved by Edmund Evans – Published by G. Routledge & Sons

Catherine Greenaway (1846 – 1901), known as Kate Greenaway, was an English children’s book illustrator and writer. Her most popular books are Under the Window (1879), Kate Greenaway’s Birthday Book for Children (1880), Mother Goose; or, The Old Nursery Rhymes (1881), and A Painting Book (1884).

Her almanacs ran from 1883 up until 1897, with no 1896 issue being published. Each almanacks included a Jan-Dec calendar, beautifully drawn illustrations and short poems. Her almanacs were sold throughout America, England, Germany and France and were produced with different variations and in different languages.

Kate Greenaway’s Almanacks are from the 19th Century Collection. Find her 1892 almanack and others here.

1st December – The Partridge

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‘On the First day of Christmas my true love sent to me…
a Partridge in a pear tree’

Illustration of a partridge

‘The Partridge’ from Thomas Bewick’s History of British Birds, Vol I (761 BEW)

To start off our Special Collections #ChristmasCountdown is an image of The Partridge from Thomas Bewick’s History of British Land Birds, Vol I.

“The length of this bird is about thirteen inches: The bill is light brown; eyes hazel; the general colour of its plumage is brown and ash, elegantly mixed with black…Partridges are chiefly found in temperate climates; the extremes of heat and cold are equally unfavourable to them: They are no where in greater plenty than in this island, where, in their season, they contribute to our most elegant entertainments”. (pg. 305-306)

History of British Birds is published in two volumes. It was the first field guide for non-specialists and contains accurate illustrations of bird species. Aspects from the History of British Birds is used in poetry and literature.

If you are interested in more items by Thomas Bewick, view more in the Bradshaw-Bewick Collection.