Catalogue Raisonné
W.S. HARDY’S COMPANY. | HAMLET.
1B [Poster for W.C. Hardy's production of Hamlet, London, 1894]
Four-color stencil and hand-painting on grey-brown wrapping paper: pale grey, buff, brown and black. Denham: William Nicholson and James Pryde (The Beggarstaff Brothers), published Aug 1894. Signed lower left: J. W. Beggarstaff. Denham Uxbridge. 29 7/8 " w. x 70 7/8 " h. (76,0 cm w. x 180,0 cm h.)
Variation of Hamlet poster (1A), with headline type at top. This poster was exhibited for the first time in a poster Exhibition at the Royal Aquarium in London, 1895. Organized by poster collectors and printers Edward Bella and G. de Malherbe, posters — and unpublished designs — were offered for sale. Accordingly, the Beggarstaffs entered four speculative designs (none of which presumably sold). Copies of their Hamlet poster were sold at 5 shillings each.
References: Bella-1 6, Brinckmann 130, Henriot 1353, Sponsel p. 167, Spielmann 268, Hillier p. 109, DFP 13, Campbell 1B.
Collections: Graphics and Posters, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, Germany.
