Webb's Theatre with a Christmas Scene from
'Harlequin Jack and the Beanstalk'
In 1994, Sothebys in London sold an extraordinary toy theatre archive, originating from the Webb family of toy theatre publishers and unseen for many years. It contained a lot of the backroom material needed for running a toy theatre business in the thriving middle Victorian years, such as copper plates, lithographic stones, original drawings, prints and dies for punching ‘tinsel’ that was used to ornament prints of actors.
Although much unique material from the toy theatre trade has survived, this was something very special. Sadly, only a few lots went to British collectors, and the bulk was bought by a determined New York dealer for his client, Mr Lloyd E. Cotsen, the creator of Neutrogena products.
Mr Cotsen has founded and endowed a special collection of children’s books at Princeton University and this is where the toy theatre material went. Once again, it disappeared from view, since it was awaiting cataloguing. Pressure from the Pollock’s Toy Museum Trust in 2007 has, however, helped the librarian, Andrea Immel, to argue for giving priority to this part of the collection, and in the past 18 months a lot of progress has been made on listing and digitally photographing the treasures. In due course, images will be available for study online.
Andrea is planning a toy theatre exhibition. In the meantime, Alan Powers will be attending a conference in February 2011 about Children’s Ephemera, and will speak about toy theatre.
