There are two images above, one still attached to the stiff backing paper, the other un-mounted. Apart from a minor colour change of the wreath, both actual bookmarks are identical.
The stiff backing paper does not have the printed STEVENS logo; instead it has the simple printed words, " The Dublin Exhibition Bookmark ".
|
The mounted bookmark has the usual " T. STEVENS COVENTRY " name woven on the reverse top turnover:
|
Very unusually, the un-mounted bookmark has a different name woven on the top turnover, being that of:
" McBIRNEY COLLIS & Co DUBLIN "
|
On the reverse pointed end of both bookmarks, there is the same Diamond Registration Mark, dated to 3 April 1865, which was the date STEVENS registered this design.
diamond registration mark on the reverse pointed end of this bookmark
|
|
YEAR:
W
{1865}
|
|
|
|
MONTH:
H
{April}
|
|
DAY:
3
|
|
|
|
BUNDLE:
6
|
|
|
Graham Parker has kindly provided me with a summary of McBirney (derived from Dictionary of Irish Biography, www.dib.ie/):
David McBirney (1806?-1882), woollen draper, department store owner and founder of Belleek pottery, was probably born in 1806; although no other details of his background and early life are known. By 1838 he had formed the partnership of McBirney, Collis & Co., and was trading as the Hibernian Woollen Warehouse, woollen drapers.
Between 1860 and McBirney's death, McBirney, Collis & Co. developed from being primarily woollen and linen drapers to retailing jewellery, boots, haberdashery, clothes, and carpets, and thus gradually developed the character of a department store.
As well as his mercantile interests McBirney was interested in developing industry throughout the country and played a major role in establishing and running the Belleek pottery, providing most of the start up capital. In addition to his interests in the department store and pottery, McBirney had investments in several railway companies, and was a governor of the King's Hospital. Politically he was a liberal and despite expressing an interest in standing for parliament in the Fermanagh County constituency, he did not do so. He never married and died 21 October 1882, and is buried at Mount Jerome cemetery, Dublin.
