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J Smith
Published in the year of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, this miniature work of genius was originally created for the library of Queen Mary's Dolls' House in 1922 by the cartoonist Fougasse. Queen Mary's Dolls' House, the largest and most famous of its kind in the world, has a library containing works by all the major writers and artists of the day. J. Smith is the magical story of a fairy who, one stormy night, was blown out of Fairyland into 1920s London. Originally measuring just 38.5 x 30mm, this luxurious gift edition is beautifully bound, gilt-edged and with a ribbon bookmark. Witty illustrations and tongue-in-cheek verse make this exquisite book a delight for children and adults alike.Please ask if you need a specific version. The data provided here may not be correct. With buying and not asking you are accepting the book as is.
152 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2015
29 people want to read
About the author
Fougasse
45 booksThe pseudonym of Cyril Kenneth Bird which he based on the fougasse, a type of mine.
Educated at Cheltenham College and King's College London (B.Sc.), and while at the latter, he attended evening art classes at the Regent Street Polytechnic and at the School of Photo-Engraving in Bolt Court.
He fought in the First World War and was seriously injured at the Battle of Gallipoli and invalided out of the British Army.
He first contributed to 'Punch' in 1916, while convalescing, and he also contributed to several other British newspapers and magazines, including the 'Graphic' and 'Tatler'.
He subsequently became one of the best known cartoonists of the time and he was one of 170 authors who created doll-sized books exclusively for Queen Mary's Dolls' House.
His unique drawing style was developed during the 1920s and 1930s,and it became extremely popular. , He used it in many advertising campaigns as well as in magazine editorial. He was art editor of 'Punch' from 1937 to 1949, and then editor until 1953, being the only cartoonist ever to edit the magazine.
During World War II, he worked unpaid for the Ministry of Information, designing humorous but effective propaganda posters including the famous "Careless Talk Costs Lives" series. For this work he was awarded the honour of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1946. And in 1951 he was elected as Master of the Art Workers' Guild.
He illustrated and co-wrote several humorous books with W. D. H. McCullough. These included the very successful 'Aces Made Easy – or Pons asinorum in a nutshell' on the subject of contract bridge, and ' You Have Been Warned – A Complete Guide to the Road' in 1935. He also designed many posters for the Government, including the iconic 'Careless Talk Costs Lives' series.
In the mid-1950s, he taught at the Christian Science Sunday School in the Sloane Square church.,
He had married Mary Holden Caldwell on 16 September 1914 and died in London, aged 77.
Educated at Cheltenham College and King's College London (B.Sc.), and while at the latter, he attended evening art classes at the Regent Street Polytechnic and at the School of Photo-Engraving in Bolt Court.
He fought in the First World War and was seriously injured at the Battle of Gallipoli and invalided out of the British Army.
He first contributed to 'Punch' in 1916, while convalescing, and he also contributed to several other British newspapers and magazines, including the 'Graphic' and 'Tatler'.
He subsequently became one of the best known cartoonists of the time and he was one of 170 authors who created doll-sized books exclusively for Queen Mary's Dolls' House.
His unique drawing style was developed during the 1920s and 1930s,and it became extremely popular. , He used it in many advertising campaigns as well as in magazine editorial. He was art editor of 'Punch' from 1937 to 1949, and then editor until 1953, being the only cartoonist ever to edit the magazine.
During World War II, he worked unpaid for the Ministry of Information, designing humorous but effective propaganda posters including the famous "Careless Talk Costs Lives" series. For this work he was awarded the honour of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1946. And in 1951 he was elected as Master of the Art Workers' Guild.
He illustrated and co-wrote several humorous books with W. D. H. McCullough. These included the very successful 'Aces Made Easy – or Pons asinorum in a nutshell' on the subject of contract bridge, and ' You Have Been Warned – A Complete Guide to the Road' in 1935. He also designed many posters for the Government, including the iconic 'Careless Talk Costs Lives' series.
In the mid-1950s, he taught at the Christian Science Sunday School in the Sloane Square church.,
He had married Mary Holden Caldwell on 16 September 1914 and died in London, aged 77.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 28, 2015
This is part of a series of reproductions of miniature books created for Queen Mary's doll house. Fully illustrated story of a fairy. Great for children's book collector's. I really like it.
November 18, 2015
Este es uno de esos libros que uno encuentra los días que va a la librería sabiendo que no tiene plata.... Apenas lo vi me enamoré de la portada, y mi felicidad fue mayor al ver que provenía de Inglaterra (no lo puedo controlar).
En fin, lo leí después de un tiempo de tenerlo dando vueltas y la verdad es que, a pesar de que no me fascinó, me encantó el mensaje que deja. Los dibujos, los detalles, me transportan a otra época.
Nunca habia escuchado sobre el autor, y mi única queja es la letra que usaron...es media molesta :/
En fin, lo leí después de un tiempo de tenerlo dando vueltas y la verdad es que, a pesar de que no me fascinó, me encantó el mensaje que deja. Los dibujos, los detalles, me transportan a otra época.
Nunca habia escuchado sobre el autor, y mi única queja es la letra que usaron...es media molesta :/
February 17, 2024
✨🌻”So with the brushes of feathers and grasses - And colours that come from the sun, When his rays get caught up in the dewdrops - The first fairy painting’s begun” 🌻✨
I absolutely loved this 🥰 a beautiful little fairy story told in Victorian verse and hand painted pictures! Gifted from a good friend (such a special find!), I’ll hold this story close to my heart.
I feel even more like a fairy after reading this - it’s a little homage to treasuring what’s natural and celebrating talent, whether it be “trained” or not.
If I was to give it one cheeky criticism, I would’ve loved to see the policeman interact with the fairy once more before leaving the human world, but the moral of the story rings true all the same :)
I absolutely loved this 🥰 a beautiful little fairy story told in Victorian verse and hand painted pictures! Gifted from a good friend (such a special find!), I’ll hold this story close to my heart.
I feel even more like a fairy after reading this - it’s a little homage to treasuring what’s natural and celebrating talent, whether it be “trained” or not.
If I was to give it one cheeky criticism, I would’ve loved to see the policeman interact with the fairy once more before leaving the human world, but the moral of the story rings true all the same :)
December 29, 2021
Really the only negative thing I can say about this beautiful little book is that somehow it’s a shame it wasn’t republished in exactly the same format as the original. It’s a beautiful edition but I would have loved to see a tinier one. Seems a shame that no other of the dolls’ house books have been republished in similar editions although I see there’s a book coming out next year about the library so fingers crossed for more
December 12, 2018
I found this little book at Windsor castle gift shop, shortly after seeing the doll house. It was love at first sight, a beautiful binding and a kind of vintage illustrations. All written in rhymes, a perfection!
Finally get around and read it
Finally get around and read it
March 23, 2020
Took 15 mins to read and it was perfect
January 28, 2021
Really lovely story that made me smile :)
July 25, 2012
A facsimile of one of Queen Mary's Dollhouse postage-stamp-sized books, enlarged to palm-size. "Fougasse" was a famed cartoonist. He accompanies his drawings with witty verse about a fairy who fetches up in London.
November 20, 2012
sweet. very nicely produced making a lovely collectable book. illustrated throughout. an odd story but a lovely thing
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews