Jump to content

The Brownies: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
GreenC bot (talk | contribs)
Reformat 1 archive link. Wayback Medic 2.5
Characters and story: Fixing style/layout errors
 
(18 intermediate revisions by 14 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Publication series by Palmer Cox}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{About|the drawings of Palmer Cox|the household spirits in British folklore|Brownie (folklore)|junior Girl Guides|Brownie (Girl Guides)}}
{{About|the drawings of Palmer Cox|the household spirits in British folklore|Brownie (folklore)|junior Girl Guides|Brownie (Girl Guides)}}
{{italic title}}
{{italic title}}
[[Image:Palmer Cox-Brownie.jpg|thumb|right|A Palmer Cox Brownie from ''Brownies Around the World'' (1894)]]
[[Image:Palmer Cox-Brownie.jpg|thumb|right|A Palmer Cox Brownie from ''Brownies Around the World'' (1894)]]
'''''The Brownies''''' is a series of publications by Canadian illustrator and author [[Palmer Cox]], based on names and elements from English traditional mythology and Scottish stories told to Cox by his grandmother. Illustrations with verse aimed at children, ''The Brownies'' was published in magazines and books during the late 19th century and early 20th century. The Brownie characters became famous in their day, and at the peak of their popularity were a pioneering name brand within [[merchandising]].
'''''The Brownies''''' is a series of publications by Canadian illustrator and author [[Palmer Cox]], based on names and elements from English traditional mythology and Scottish stories told to Cox by his grandmother. Illustrations with verse aimed at children, ''The Brownies'' was published in magazines and books during the late 19th century and early 20th century. The Brownie characters became famous in their day, and they were the first North American comic characters to be internationally [[merchandising|merchandised]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Wood |first=Carrie |date=2020 |editor-last=Overstreet |editor-first=Robert |title=[[The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide]] |edition=50 |publisher=[[Gemstone Publishing]] |page=325 |chapter=The Platinum Age: The American Comic Book 1883-1938|editor-link=Robert Overstreet |isbn=9781603602518}}</ref>

== Characters and story ==
== Characters and story ==
Brownies are little [[fairy]]- or [[goblin]]-like creatures who appear at night and make mischief and do helpful tasks. As published by Palmer Cox, they were based on Scottish folktales.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yoon |first1=Clara |title=The Brownies: A Cartoon and Commercial Craze |url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/stories/articles/2018/7/9/brownies-cartoon-commercial-craze |website=PBS: Antique Roadshow |publisher=PBS |accessdate=9 July 2018}}</ref>
Brownies are little [[fairy]]- or [[goblin]]-like creatures who appear at night and make mischief and do helpful tasks. As published by [[Palmer Cox]], they were based on Scottish folktales.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yoon |first1=Clara |title=The Brownies: A Cartoon and Commercial Craze |url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/stories/articles/2018/7/9/brownies-cartoon-commercial-craze |website=PBS: Antique Roadshow |publisher=PBS |accessdate=9 July 2018}}</ref>
[[File:Palmer Cox, Brownies at Home - Twelve Vignettes, c. 1893, NGA 56973.jpg|thumb|Palmer Cox, Brownies at Home - Twelve Vignettes, c. 1893, NGA 56973]]<ref>
[[File:Palmer Cox, Brownies at Home - Twelve Vignettes, c. 1893, NGA 56973.jpg|thumb|Palmer Cox, Brownies at Home - Twelve Vignettes, c. 1893, NGA 56973<ref>
{{cite archive |first= Palmer|last= Cox|item = Brownies at Home - Twelve Vignettes|item-url = https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.56973.html|item-id = NGA 56973|date = c. 1893|collection = Department of Prints and Drawings|institution = National Gallery of Art|location = Washington D.C.|accession= 1979.20.25}}</ref>
{{cite archive |first= Palmer|last= Cox|item = Brownies at Home - Twelve Vignettes|item-url = https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.56973.html|item-id = NGA 56973|date = c. 1893|collection = Department of Prints and Drawings|institution = National Gallery of Art|location = Washington D.C.|accession= 1979.20.25}}</ref>]]


==Publication history==
==Publication history==
[[Image:DanceOfTheBrowniesCover.jpg|right|thumb|1895 sheet music. Typically of unauthorized merchandising of the era, the appearance of the ''Brownies'' characters is similar to but slightly different from Cox's drawings.]]
[[Image:DanceOfTheBrowniesCover.jpg|right|thumb|1895 sheet music. Typically of unauthorized merchandising of the era, the appearance of the ''Brownies'' characters is similar to but slightly different from Cox's drawings.]]
The first appearances of Brownie characters in a print publication took place in 1879, but not until the February 1881 issue of ''[[Wide Awake magazine|Wide Awake]]'' magazine were the creatures printed in their final form.<ref name=toonopedia-brownies>[http://www.toonopedia.com/brownies.htm ''The Brownies'' (1881)] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://www.webcitation.org/6xQjN0pgn?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/brownies.htm Archived] from the original on February 22, 2018.</ref> The first proper story, ''The Brownies' Ride'', appeared in the February 1883 issue of the children's periodical ''[[St. Nicholas Magazine]]''.<ref name=fmbi>{{Cite web|last=Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon|title=The Brownies|url=http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/brownies/brownies.html}}</ref>
The first appearances of Brownie characters in a print publication took place in 1879, but not until the February 1881 issue of ''[[Wide Awake magazine|Wide Awake]]'' magazine were the creatures printed in their final form.<ref name=toonopedia-brownies>[http://www.toonopedia.com/brownies.htm ''The Brownies'' (1881)] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://archive.today/20240528073210/https://www.webcitation.org/6xQjN0pgn?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/brownies.htm Archived] from the original on February 22, 2018.</ref> The first proper story, ''The Brownies' Ride'', appeared in the February 1883 issue of the children's periodical ''[[St. Nicholas Magazine]]''.<ref name=fmbi>{{Cite web|last=Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon|title=The Brownies|url=http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/brownies/brownies.html}}</ref>


Published in 1899, ''The Brownies Abroad'' is considered the first ''Brownie'' [[comic strip]], though it was mostly a [[text comic]]. It didn't utilise [[speech balloons]] until the publication ''The Brownie Clown of Brownie Town'' of 1908.<ref name=fmbcs>{{Cite web|last=Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon|title=Brownies comic strips|url=http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/brownies/brownies_strip.html}}</ref> From 1903, ''The Brownies'' appeared as a newspaper [[Sunday strip]] for several years.<ref name=toonopedia-brownies/>
Published in 1899, ''The Brownies Abroad'' is considered the first ''Brownie'' [[comic strip]], though it was mostly a [[text comic]]. It didn't utilise [[speech balloons]] until the publication ''The Brownie Clown of Brownie Town'' of 1908.<ref name=fmbcs>{{Cite web|last=Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon|title=Brownies comic strips|url=http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/brownies/brownies_strip.html}}</ref> From 1903, ''The Brownies'' appeared as a newspaper [[Sunday strip]] for several years.<ref name=toonopedia-brownies/>
Line 19: Line 19:


==Merchandising==
==Merchandising==
Beyond print publication, ''The Brownies'' was at least twice adapted to stage plays.<ref name=toonopedia-brownies/> With the rise in popularity of the Brownie characters, these were used in many venues of merchandising, such as games, blocks, cards, dolls, calendars, advertisements, package labels, mugs, plates, flags, soda pop, a slot machine, a bagatelle game and so forth. [[George Eastman]] applied the brand name in promotion of [[Kodak]]'s "[[Brownie (camera)|Brownie Camera]]", but Palmer Cox reportedly never received any money for the commercial use of his work.<ref name=lambiek-cox>{{Cite web|last=Lambiek Comiclopedia|title=Palmer Cox|url=http://lambiek.net/artists/c/cox-palmer.htm}}</ref><ref name=WM>{{Cite web|last=Morgan|first=Wayne|title=Palmer Cox, the Brownie Craze, and the Brownie Camera|url=http://www.phsc.ca/Brownie2007.html}}</ref>
Beyond print publication, ''The Brownies'' was at least twice adapted to stage plays.<ref name=toonopedia-brownies/> With the rise in popularity of the Brownie characters, these were used in many venues of merchandising, such as games, blocks, cards, dolls, calendars, advertisements, package labels, mugs, plates, flags, soda pop, a slot machine, a bagatelle game and so forth. [[George Eastman]] applied the brand name in promotion of [[Kodak]]'s "[[Brownie (camera)|Brownie Camera]]", but Palmer Cox reportedly never received any money from Kodak for the commercial use of his work.<ref name=lambiek-cox>{{Cite web|last=Lambiek Comiclopedia|title=Palmer Cox|url=http://lambiek.net/artists/c/cox-palmer.htm}}</ref><ref name=WM>{{Cite web|last=Morgan|first=Wayne|title=Palmer Cox, the Brownie Craze, and the Brownie Camera|url=http://www.phsc.ca/Brownie2007.html}}</ref>


==Sources==
==Sources==
Line 29: Line 29:


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commonscat|The Brownies}}

===Main books===
===Main books===
* Cox, Palmer. [https://archive.org/details/browniestheirboocoxp ''The Brownies, Their Book'']. New York: The Century Co., 1887.
* Cox, Palmer. [https://archive.org/details/browniestheirboocoxp ''The Brownies, Their Book'']. New York: The Century Co., 1887.
Line 48: Line 48:


{{DEFAULTSORT:Brownies, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brownies, The}}
[[Category:Fictional characters introduced in 1879]]
[[Category:Characters in children's literature]]
[[Category:Characters in children's literature]]
[[Category:Canadian children's books]]
[[Category:Canadian children's books]]
[[Category:Comic strips started in the 1890s]]
[[Category:Comic strips started in the 1890s]]
[[Category:Fairies and sprites in popular culture]]
[[Category:Fairies in popular culture]]
[[Category:Fictional fairies and sprites]]
[[Category:Fictional fairies]]
[[Category:Kodak cameras]]
[[Category:Kodak cameras]]
[[Category:Canadian comic strips]]
[[Category:Canadian comic strips]]
Line 60: Line 61:
[[Category:Fantasy comics]]
[[Category:Fantasy comics]]
[[Category:Text comics]]
[[Category:Text comics]]
[[Category:Brownies (folklore)|*]]
[[Category:Public domain comics]]

Latest revision as of 01:46, 14 November 2024

A Palmer Cox Brownie from Brownies Around the World (1894)

The Brownies is a series of publications by Canadian illustrator and author Palmer Cox, based on names and elements from English traditional mythology and Scottish stories told to Cox by his grandmother. Illustrations with verse aimed at children, The Brownies was published in magazines and books during the late 19th century and early 20th century. The Brownie characters became famous in their day, and they were the first North American comic characters to be internationally merchandised.[1]

Characters and story

[edit]

Brownies are little fairy- or goblin-like creatures who appear at night and make mischief and do helpful tasks. As published by Palmer Cox, they were based on Scottish folktales.[2]

Palmer Cox, Brownies at Home - Twelve Vignettes, c. 1893, NGA 56973[3]

Publication history

[edit]
1895 sheet music. Typically of unauthorized merchandising of the era, the appearance of the Brownies characters is similar to but slightly different from Cox's drawings.

The first appearances of Brownie characters in a print publication took place in 1879, but not until the February 1881 issue of Wide Awake magazine were the creatures printed in their final form.[4] The first proper story, The Brownies' Ride, appeared in the February 1883 issue of the children's periodical St. Nicholas Magazine.[5]

Published in 1899, The Brownies Abroad is considered the first Brownie comic strip, though it was mostly a text comic. It didn't utilise speech balloons until the publication The Brownie Clown of Brownie Town of 1908.[6] From 1903, The Brownies appeared as a newspaper Sunday strip for several years.[4]

The first compilation, The Brownies, Their Book, was published in 1887, followed by 16 books in the series until the last in 1918. Palmer Cox died in 1924.

Merchandising

[edit]

Beyond print publication, The Brownies was at least twice adapted to stage plays.[4] With the rise in popularity of the Brownie characters, these were used in many venues of merchandising, such as games, blocks, cards, dolls, calendars, advertisements, package labels, mugs, plates, flags, soda pop, a slot machine, a bagatelle game and so forth. George Eastman applied the brand name in promotion of Kodak's "Brownie Camera", but Palmer Cox reportedly never received any money from Kodak for the commercial use of his work.[7][8]

Sources

[edit]
Footnotes
  1. ^ Wood, Carrie (2020). "The Platinum Age: The American Comic Book 1883-1938". In Overstreet, Robert (ed.). The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (50 ed.). Gemstone Publishing. p. 325. ISBN 9781603602518.
  2. ^ Yoon, Clara. "The Brownies: A Cartoon and Commercial Craze". PBS: Antique Roadshow. PBS. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  3. ^ Cox, Palmer. "Brownies at Home - Twelve Vignettes" (c. 1893). Department of Prints and Drawings, ID: NGA 56973. Washington D.C.: National Gallery of Art. 1979.20.25.
  4. ^ a b c The Brownies (1881) at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018.
  5. ^ Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon. "The Brownies".
  6. ^ Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon. "Brownies comic strips".
  7. ^ Lambiek Comiclopedia. "Palmer Cox".
  8. ^ Morgan, Wayne. "Palmer Cox, the Brownie Craze, and the Brownie Camera".
[edit]

Main books

[edit]

Other

[edit]