Theatrical penny plain and twopence coloured additional portraits, 1810-1848 (MS Thr 942): Guide.

There are no restrictions on physical access to this material. Collection is open for research.

Return to the Table of Contents

Prints known as "penny plains" and "twopence coloureds" were collected and often used in toy theaters during the first half of the 19th-century. The names of the prints originated from the prices each cost to purchase in English coin. The images are portraits of actors depicted as principal characters with scenery of the then current plays. These characters could be cut-out, mounted on pasteboard, attached to sticks and used as performers in toy theatres. Often performing scripts written especially for children to be used with these materials. The Twopence coloureds were purchased already coloured-in by the publisher. Toy theatres were especially popular as English children's toys in the first half of the 19th-century, but by the late 19th-century popularity waned and publishing of these materials declined.

Return to the Table of Contents

This collection contains hand-colored and uncolored theatrical portrait engravings depicting portrait images of actors. Some are black and white and some are hand-colored, almost all were printed in London. Publishing firms include: William West, A. Park, Jameson, Skelt, J. Fairburn, Hodgson & Co., and many others. Actors depicted include T. P. Cooke, Andrew Ducrow, Edward Gomersal, Charles Kean, Edmund Kean, among others.

Return to the Table of Contents

Return to the Table of Contents