Shakespeare's Tercentenary Commemoration

April 23rd, 1864 (Stratford Church)

HE SO SEPULCHRED IN SUCH
POMP DOTH LIE
THAT KINGS FOR SUCH A TOMB
WOULD WISH TO DIE.

image of Stratford Church,
contained inside
a wreath of leaves

STRATFORD CHURCH

same bookmark, with different coloured bottom area

the image of this bookmark was kindly donated by
Georg Hartong, The Netherlands

same bookmark with different coloured silks

13.7 cm long by 5.3 cm wide

Various colours have been used.
The main image has purple leaves and the bottom is in drab.
The left image has purple leaves and the bottom is in blue.
The central image has blue leaves and the bottom is in drab.

The Shakespeare's Tercentenary Commemoration bookmarks were issued in a set of three, of which this design is the bottom one, and all were retained by a button. The top one, "The Bard of Avon" is the only one with the actual words "Tercentenary Commemoration".
Also note that it is only the top silk which has the woven Stevens name, and when issued with the button, all three had pointed tops.

The three silks were however also issued as single bookmarks, when they had flat tops, as this one.

The image on the left (donated by Georg Hartong) is still attached to the original stiff backing paper used to support the bookmark in the post.
It is interesting to note that the printed words refer to " IMPROVED " bookmark. This is perhaps a reference to sb1796 - Shakespeare's / Tercentenary April 23 1864, being a set of three narrow bookmarks; comprising Shakespeare, Stratford, and Birthplace; held together with a metal bust of Shakespeare. It is believed that these three narrow ribbons were issued before the silk above.

This page was created on 25 April 2003
Additional image donated by Georg Hartong added 19 October 2011. Blue centre image added 23 February 2016. Wording changed 12 March 2019 to refer to alternative favour. © Peter Daws - Stevengraph-Silks

Reference Number:-	Darby Number:-	Godden Number:-
sb 1808	320c	650c

Size of Silk:	13.7 cm long by 5.3 cm wide
Alternative back-ground colours:	Various colours have been used. The main image has purple leaves and the bottom is in drab. The left image has purple leaves and the bottom is in blue. The central image has blue leaves and the bottom is in drab.
Comments:	The Shakespeare's Tercentenary Commemoration bookmarks were issued in a set of three, of which this design is the bottom one, and all were retained by a button. The top one, "The Bard of Avon" is the only one with the actual words "Tercentenary Commemoration". Also note that it is only the top silk which has the woven Stevens name, and when issued with the button, all three had pointed tops. The three silks were however also issued as single bookmarks, when they had flat tops, as this one. The image on the left (donated by Georg Hartong) is still attached to the original stiff backing paper used to support the bookmark in the post. It is interesting to note that the printed words refer to " IMPROVED " bookmark. This is perhaps a reference to sb1796 - Shakespeare's / Tercentenary April 23 1864, being a set of three narrow bookmarks; comprising Shakespeare, Stratford, and Birthplace; held together with a metal bust of Shakespeare. It is believed that these three narrow ribbons were issued before the silk above.