Liverpool artwork of the day – Tuesday December 11 2007. Christmas Card sent by Mr John and Miss Skeaping, 1898 in Museum of Liverpool’s social history collections
If you have been opening a new window in the NML Online Advent Calendar each day, as I have, you will have seen this on the 8th day.
In ‘Gore’s Liverpool Directory’ John Skeaping’s profession is recorded as ‘Artist’. He first appears in the 1894 directory, living at 50 Russell Street with a studio at 20 Castle Street. Between 1898 and the last entry found in 1909, his address changes to 173 Upper Parliament Street.
This Christmas card could therefore have served the dual purpose of announcing his new address, as well as spreading festive cheer. This would expalin why the address is included so prominently in the design.
The text on the card reads:
Mr John and Miss Skeaping send Season’s Greetings
1898
173 Upper Parliament St, Liverpool
This card, which is not currently on display, is from the Museum of Liverpool’s social history collections.