The Brownies
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 were the first North American comic characters to be internationally merchandised.[1]
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.[2]
Publication history
The first appearances of Brownie characters in a print publication took place in 1879, but not until the February 1881 issue of
Published in 1899, The Brownies Abroad is considered the first Brownie
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
Beyond print publication, The Brownies was at least twice adapted to stage plays.
Sources
- Footnotes
- ISBN 9781603602518.
- ^ Yoon, Clara. "The Brownies: A Cartoon and Commercial Craze". PBS: Antique Roadshow. PBS. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c The Brownies (1881) at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018.
- ^ Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon. "The Brownies".
- ^ Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon. "Brownies comic strips".
- ^ Lambiek Comiclopedia. "Palmer Cox".
- ^ Morgan, Wayne. "Palmer Cox, the Brownie Craze, and the Brownie Camera".
External links
Main books
- Cox, Palmer. The Brownies, Their Book. New York: The Century Co., 1887.
- Cox, Palmer. Another Brownie Book. New York: The Century Co., 1890.
- Cox, Palmer. The Brownies at Home. New York-London: D. Appleton-Century Company Incorporated, [1893] 1936.
- Cox, Palmer. The Brownies Around the World. New York-London: D. Appleton-Century Company Incorporated, [1894] 1937.
- Cox, Palmer. The Brownies Through the Union. New York: The Century Co., 1895.
- Cox, Palmer. The Brownies Abroad. New York: The Century Co., 1899.
- Judd, Mary C. The Palmer Cox Brownie Primer. Pictures by Palmer Cox. New York: The Century Co., [1906] 1921.
- Cox, Palmer. The Brownies Many More Nights. New York: The Century Co., 1913.
- Cox, Palmer. The Brownies and Prince Florimel. New York: The Century Co., 1918.
Other
- "The Brownies at School" from The Brownies: Their Book The Baldwin Library of Historical Children's Literature
- Palmer Cox and The Eastman Kodak Brownie camera