Isn’t this bit of vintage cover art sweet? A little girl with dogs sits on what appears to be a train bench. Perhaps one doggie is a girl and the other a boy, since the one dog is sporting a pretty pink bow?
This drawing appeared on the front cover of a children’s book from 1883 entitled Toots and His Friends. This drawing has a bit of a signature that I can’t make out and it doesn’t appear to match the name of the author – Kate Tannatt Woods.
While I usually talk about the illustrators or the images themselves, I thought Woods’ story is the interesting one here. She was born in 1836. Her husband, George H. Woods was a prominent officer in the Civil War. She served as a nurse. He was severely wounded and she was able to care for him. The biography I read didn’t mention how badly he was hurt but it appears she become the family breadwinner after the war. She wrote for a number of news and lady’s magazines. She also wrote a number of books for young people which were published between 1879 and 1897.
The book from which this drawing of a little girl with dogs came from tells the tale of a child named Toots. He, had a lot of little friends and the book tells us a little about each of them. Unfortunately, I am not sure which friend is the one who was featured on the cover. She is sitting on what looks to be a train or carriage bench with two dogs – both of which appear to be Spaniels. The drawing is full color, though it seems a little dull. I did try to brighten it up a bit but I didn’t want to really change the colors on it.
Hopefully it will prove useful. If not anything else, hopefully its charm will bring you a smile.
This image is copyright free and in the public domain anywhere that extends copyrights 70 years after death or at least 120 years after publication when the original illustrator is unknown.
