In the John Collins' archive there is a small box, with a transparent lid containing a set of Christmas cards and bookmarks.
They have been printed by Raphael Studio, with no date. They would seem to be a set of samples. The detail of the painting is very fine, The cards have a gold frame. Most have William Glasby's signature, or just "Glasby, ENGLAND."
We have noticed that Glasby always signed the sketches, but his name does not always appear on the final stained glass window.
We wondered if Glasby was going to use the Christmas cards as a means of publicity?
Some of the designs are based on Windows, others are not found in the sketches.
The most interesting design (two cards) is of a very elaborate Angel revealing herself to the shepherds. The wings are a vibrant flamingo pink and there is gold fraying around the Angel, which is presumably depicting the burning bush?
The inscription reads:
"Behold I bring you Good Tidings of Great Joy"
WITH BEST WISHES FOR A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS
William Glasby is written in small letters slighly right of the centre.
This is Log 267. It does not have any writing on the back, or ascribed to a Church and therefore may have been drawn purely for the Christmas card design.
This card is the only card with Glasby's address on the back:
It allows us to place the design of the cards in the period 1924 - 1935 when Glasby was using Lombardini's aadress as a business address.
This is a similar scene. The title is: "Good Tidings of Great Joy" and underneath: "With Best Wishes for a Very Happy Christmas". Glasby is in the bottom left corner and PRINTED IN ENGLAND bottom right.
Some of the cards use the traditional nativity scene:
[11 x 9 cm]
One card This card has the William Glasby signature in the bottom right corner.
There are 2 cards, one folded with the message with best wishes for a very happy christmas
[Size: 11 x 9 cm]
These cards have the William Glasby signature in the bottom right corner (left) and bottom left corner (below).
There are four cards of each design , folded
with the message:
"With Best for a Very Happy Christmas"
There are five cards,
Glasby on the bottom left corner.
ENGLAND bottom right
See Log 149:
Threee folded cards.
William Glasby signature slightly right from the centre.
See also Log 66
There are six copies of this card. William Glasby signature almost in the centre.
The message reads:
With Best Wishes for a Very Happy Christmas.
This is a very simple design . There are two copies. William Glasby is in the right corner at the bottom of the painting.
Underneath is the message: With Best Wishes For a Very Happy Christmas.
There is only one unfolded card. Glasby England is on the back.
This would seem to be an Easter card? Depicting Jesus and Mary Magdalene?
Three copies.
William Glasby in bottom right corner.
At the bottom of the panes is small writing which is not readable, but would seem to be th same as used in Memorial Windows.
This card has the William Glasby signature, in the bottom right corner, and is based on the three panels idea seen in stained-glass windows. There are 11 cards, unfolded,
Three folded cards with the message:
With Best Wishes for a very Happy Christmas"
This is the same as Log 233. There is no designated church, suggesting it was a Christmas card design. Each panel has been painted on a piece of thick card and pasted onto the bigger frame.
The design is painted onto heavy card board, and on the back has words suggesting opening hours.
This is a folded card with the message inside: "With Best Wishes for a Very Happy Christmas" . It is based on Log 73.
A very small card of the cruxifixion.[8 & 1/2 x 6 cm for the whole card. The sketch is: 6.3 x 3.5 cm]. The detail of the figures is extraordinary.
There is a sketch for this design of the same size, Log 181.
It is based on the three panel idea seen in Glasby's works.
For other cruxifiction scenes See Log 94:
There are two designs for the Book Mark Cards, again, no dates:
The card on the right is written in gold and not easy to see until turned to the light. It measures 4.2 x 13 cm. The colours are all the same shades. There are four copies of this card. The inscription reads: "With Best Wishes for a Very Happy Christmas" .
William Glasby is written in black in very tiny letters. It is quite exquisite and delicate.
It is based on Logs 136 and 194.
The card on the left has just Glasby as a signature
It is in two sizes: 4.9 x 16.5 cm and
4.2 x 13 cm . There are six copies of the smaller card and four of the larger card. The colours vary slightly.
The inscription reads: "With Best Wishes for a Very Happy Christmas"
Glasby England at the bottom.
This card is based on Log 193. St Matthew, Worthing
There is a Christmas card for sale on the Ruby Lane website. WW1 1915 church memorial card of faith and hope by William Glasby : Vintage Postcards & Photographs | Ruby Lane
It is described as:
"An original small card dating from 1915.
It measures 8.3cm x 13.8cm and is printed on both sides.
This was given by an English church rector to his parishioners in 1915. The artwork is by William Glasby (1863-1941) who was primarily a designer of stained glass windows. It is signed and dated lower right.
The year 1915 saw heavy British losses on the battlefields of the Somme, and this card would have been given out to parishioners, many of whom would have already lost sons or friends. The text at the bottom describes how “The Angel of Justice watches the Peace Star breaking through the Clouds of War, while the Angel of sacrifice mourns the tragedy of her loss”.
The gold border has dulled slightly on the left edge, and there is very minor tip wear bottom left. In good overall condition.
A poignant piece."
It is dated 1915 and is a very evocative war picture, not seen in the other cards which are more traditional Nativity scenes.
Inside, printed in Capital Letters are the words
WITH THE RECTOR'S BEST WISHES
Note: we hope to improve the layout of this page. When we have finished uploading the Logs we may be able to identify further sources for the Christmas card designs.
(c) John Collins and Erika Szyszczak, 7 July 2021
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