{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O901750"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O901750/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PU2720/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PU2720/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2026PU2720","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O901750/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O901750","accessionNumber":"E.239-1899","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"The Four Knaves","type":"assigned by artist"},{"title":"The Queen of Hearts","type":"published title"}],"summaryDescription":"<i>The Queen of Hearts</i> was published in 1881 by George Routledge & Sons. It was one of the ‘Picture Books’ created as part of the collaboration of illustrator Randolph Caldecott and Edmund Evans, an innovative wood engraver and printmaker. Two picture books, printed in full colour, were published annually. They were sold for one shilling each as an affordable alternative to the hand-coloured children’s books that were more common previously. Whilst the basic story is well known, Caldecott's illustrations for this book exemplify his talent in storytelling beyond the written word. With two or three illustrations per line, they contain extra details with Caldecott's usual sense of humour; for example, the cat being blamed for stealing the tarts before the true thief is revealed. These proofs (E.230 to 239-1899) also include two unpublished illustrations (E.238 and 239-1899).","physicalDescription":"Proof print of an illustration depicting three knaves (jacks) and four dogs, with the Knave of Hearts running away in the background. The print has brown linework, and is a reproduction of an ink drawing.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Caldecott, Randolph","id":"A7562"},"association":{"text":"after","id":"THES283471"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Edmund Evans Ltd.","id":"A16965"},"association":{"text":"print-makers","id":"AAT25164"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper (fiber product)","id":"AAT14109"},{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"}],"techniques":[{"text":"wood engraving","id":"AAT53303"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Wood engraving in brown printing ink on paper","categories":[{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"},{"text":"Illustration","id":"THES48938"},{"text":"Children and childhood","id":"THES48980"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2026PU2720"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLE","id":"THES49657"},"free":"","case":"I","shelf":"141","box":"A"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"print","id":"AAT41273"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1881","earliest":"1881-01-01","latest":"1881-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"E.230-1899","id":"O901759"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"E.231-1899","id":"O901758"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"E.232-1899","id":"O901757"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"E.233-1899","id":"O901756"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"E.234-1899","id":"O901755"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"E.235-1899","id":"O901754"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"E.236-1899","id":"O901753"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"E.237-1899","id":"O901752"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"E.238-1899","id":"O901751"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"E.239-1899","id":"O901750"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"7.75","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"6.625","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions taken from Register of Engravings 1896 to 1919, prints are now in closed mount","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased from Mrs Marian Caldecott in 1899, alongside several other drawings (object numbers D.1 to 6-1899) and proofs (object numbers E.17 to 354-1899).","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'The Four Knaves', wood engraving proof in brown ink, by Edmund Evans Ltd., after a drawing by Randolph Caldecott for <i>The Queen of Hearts</i>, London, 1881","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Proof","id":"THES48870"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Caldecott, Randolph (Mrs)","id":"C4212"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"playing cards","id":"AAT211294"},{"text":"packs of cards","id":"AAT217923"},{"text":"hearts","id":"AAT9874"},{"text":"royalty","id":"AAT188750"},{"text":"dogs (animals)","id":"x34865"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":["The Queen of Hearts, author unknown"],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["E.239-1899"],"accessionNumberNum":"239","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":1899,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-10-21","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-30","availableToBook":false}}