UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Recto, above; verso, below:

The copper plate bears the rectangular maker's mark of 'HUGHES AND KIMBER / MANUFACTURERS / RED LION PASSAGE / FLEET STREET / LONDON'.

It is the same size as From Billingsgate [165] and close in size to several other Thames etchings, some much earlier (Thames Police [53], Longshore men [52], Black Lion Wharf [54]) and to both figurative and city-scape subjects of the 1870s (i.e. Speke Hall: The Avenue [101], Mrs Leyland, Sr. [123], Price's Candle Factory [166]).

About 1876 Hughes & Kimber published a catalogue that specifically mentions 'Copper plates, specially prepared for engraving Maps, fine etching, line or other high class engraving.' These were sold by weight and cost 3 shillings (£0.3.0) per lb (pound) when 'ordinary' and 3 shillings and sixpence (£0.3.6) when' special'. Copper plates werealso sold by the dozen for commercial printing in 24 different sizes. Copper strips or sheets could be bought and cut up as required. The catalogue gives the address of the office or shop of Hughes & Kimber Ltd as West Harding Street, Fetter Lane, London. 9

The copper plate was cancelled with diagonal crossed lines across the centre of the plate. The cancelled plate was probably among those bought at Whistler's bankruptcy sale by the Fine Art Society, London. It was published in an album of Cancelled Plates ('Cancelled Set') by The Fine Art Society, London, 1879.

The copper plate was probably among those acquired in exchange for lithographs from Robert Dunthorne (b. ca 1851), by Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958). 10 The plate was given by Miss Philip to the University of Glasgow in 1935.