An extensive collection of this Kentish artist’s work in designing bookplates and greetings cards.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Black paper covered boards with brown paper covered spine in fair condition. Spine tips and edges rubbed. Corners bumped. Chafed to front and rear. Embossed ‘Scraps’ to front board. Internally gutters tender over end papers, still holding. Leaves age toned, scattered foxing throughout. 22 pp. 31 cm x 24 cm. Contents include:
BOOKPLATES
10 accomplished b/w bookplates designed by A Sprules pasted in alongside original drawings and preparatory sketches. Created for Dr Francis Richmond, Dora L Sandford. M.S. Ward, LM Pennycuick, IJ Kennedy, Dorothy Haines, M Margery Smith, Thomas Flint and others unnamed. In good condition, toning to edges, scattered light foxing.
Additional ephemera pasted into the album includes:
Hand drawn sketch in black ink of a boat house signed ACS, dated 1912 plus printed version.
Magazine clipping of ‘Landscape in Oils’ by Sprules. Depicts Burnham Downs in Kent near Rochester. Annotated ‘The sketch club annual exhibition RCA 1913’.
Pencil sketches of pastoral scenes of Rochester area.
3 b/w original photographs of 3 Pickering Place, St James’s St, London and Snodland, Nr Rochester dated 1924/1928 – handwritten notes record that Arthur Sprules painted these interiors and exteriors.
6 x b/w photographs of St George’s Church, Canterbury taken circa 1928 pre-WW2 bombing.
A hand drawn sketch of a cityscape in Bruges dated 1931.
A sepia toned print of Statue Jean d’Arc Paris dated 1928.
CHRISTMAS CARDS
6 x b/w printed vintage Christmas cards designed by A Sprules for himself and family members. 3 include their original ink and pencil drawings. Each pasted into scrapbook. b/w designs include the Three Wise Men, Beddingdon P.O., a mythological scene and an heraldic scene. Dated variously 1908,1911,1913 and 1915. One card has been made for use by RG and EC Sprules and another for GK Sprules of Eaton Grange, Norwich. In fair to good condition. Browning to edges, a little foxing, ink designs remain sharp and very well preserved.
11 x vintage b/w Christmas cards sent from Dora L Sandford at The Grammar School for Girls, Rochester dating variously between 1912-1928. All hand written to Mr and Mrs Sprules and family. Depicting town and country scenes. Each pasted into scrapbook. In fair to good condition. Browning to edges, a little foxing to exteriors and interiors, ink designs throughout remain sharp and well preserved.
