Stevengraph typical bookmark - Peeping Tom Bookmark

STEVENGRAPHS

Thomas Stevens invented the title "STEVENGRAPH" and the first recorded use of this title was on the paper backing label of his woven silk bookmarks, in 1876. Stevens also later named his factory in Coventry, "Stevengraph Works" and this again first appears on the bookmark backing label of 1878 - 1880.

Today it is assumed the Stevengraph title applies only to his woven silk pictures. As these however did not appear until May 1879, it is evident Stevens intended the title to include his silk bookmarks, silk portraits and silk postcards too.

The key dates are:-

  Bookmarks- first Stevens bookmark registered May 1862. 
 Pictures- first Stevens picture recorded in May 1879. 
 Portraits- first Stevens portraits appear in early 1886. 
 Postcards- first appear in July 1903 (although sold by R.T. Morgan). 

Below is a full listing of Stevens silks in each category, together with scanned images, which themselves are from a wide variety of sources and as such vary in quality.

The information contained in these listings was initially derived from Geoffrey Godden's book Stevengraphs and other Victorian silk pictures. John High, a member of the Stevengraph Collectors Association, has very kindly given me access to his un-published lists which has greatly extended our records, particular of the Alpha Series silk postcards which had not been documented before.

SILKS:-

SCENIC PICTURES (last updated 7 February 2010)
PORTRAITS (last updated 31 August 2009)
BOOKMARKS (last updated 28 February 2010)
POSTCARDS (last updated 28 February 2010)
LARGE SOUVENIR SILKS and small Rectangular silks (last updated 29 May 2006)
OTHERS SILK ITEMS (last updated 1st February 2000)


Back to main page


This page was created on 1 February 2000
This page was last updated on 28 February 2010 © Peter Daws
Web site address: www.victoriansilk.com