Heath's Caricature Scrapbook

The following is the content of the above in its various identifiable sections. Note that asterisks in the list indicate a H Heath personal inscription appears on at least one drawing on the page in question. Many pages have the publisher’s name printed centre-bottom, but the name is invariably indistinct. It is: Charles Tilt, 86 Fleet Street, London.


Frontispiece*: The Caricaturist’s Scrap Book – Drawn & Etched by H.Heath. The picture depicts a drawing-room scene with individuals and couples, young and old, joyously engaged in looking at their individual scrapbooks. The cover of one book has the date 1840. Even the ‘below stairs’ couple at the open door are amused with their scrapbook!


Omnium Gatherum: A wealth of small images, numbering 15 to 20 per page, incorporating people, children, animals and mythical creatures, many bizarre in nature. These miniature sketches are typical of those produced by lithographic artists trying to encourage people to develop the hobby of scrapbook use: each drawing was destined to be cut-out and pasted-in as the hobbyist desired.
Front Introduction plate of three persons looking at a page of the book followed by: Plates No 1, No 2, No 3, No 4, No 5, No 6, No 7*, Second Series No 1, No 2, No 3, No 4*, No 5*, No 6* (Note that none of these appears to have been used by Gray’s Pottery).


The Art of Tormenting: Generally larger images (usually about five per page) chiefly based on a theme which illustrates how women may torment their husbands, their children, their friends and their servants. Front introduction plate of a cat toying with a mouse followed by Plates 1*, 2, 3, 4*, 5, 6. This section was used extensively by Gray’s Pottery and, where possible, examples are shown.

The number reference at the start of each description below relates to the Plate page and image position within it.