Rare 1860s Needlework Books Mrs Mee & Miss Austin Victorian Craft

We are excited to offer this very scarce pair of publications by Mrs Cornelia Mee and Miss Mary Austin. We see First Series of Novelties in Needlework and Third Series of Novelties in Needlework. Both editions were SELF published by these enterprising Victorian era sisters from their 8 Brook Street, London premises. The green Third edition is a fascinating edition to see how the book publishing business of these two Victorian lady publishers has grown from inception. An advertisement in the front tells us that during the past 7 months they had issued 32,000 books.

Although no date of publication anywhere in the books, after much research these were likely published around the later 1860's period when they were living in London. Mary Austin died in 1874 and her sister Cornelia Mee died a year later in Hackney, London in 1875.

This small pink and green leaflet type publication is a fascinating insight in to the craze for Berlin woolwork, needlework, crochet and knitting during the 19th century. It also shows us the astute business acumen of those clever, intuitive Victorian women who could fulfil this demand for needlework supplies and periodical publications. This entrepreneurship not only improved their own lives but also the lives of those connected with them (they employed staff and apprentices).

Written and published by Mrs Mee & Miss Austin of 8, Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, London. Price One Shilling. London. Sold at All Berlin Wool Warehouses and Booksellers, And By Mrs, Mee, 8, Brook Street. Entered at Stationer's Hall.

Pink Book Measures 18.5 cm x 12 cm tall, 32 pages including 7 illustrations for crochet, knitting and netting.

Green Book Measures: 18.5 cm x 12 cm tall, 30 pages including 7 illustrations, 1 of which is a fold out. We also adore the illustration for the child's jacket.

Condition: Pink Book - Original paper covers rather worn and faded. Front of cover detached from spine. A few tears to page margins on last advertising page and back cover.
Condition: Green Book- Original paper covers rather worn and faded with wear to spine. A tear to corner of illustration for crochet Antimacasar. Corners of pages dog eared, some general age foxing to paper. Hand written accounting notes to inside front and back covers

A very scarce pair of publication by Mrs Cornelia Mee and Miss Mary Austin

Authors Background - Cornelia Mee was one of the first female pioneers of publishing books and periodicals on works with a needle. She was born at High St, Bath, Somerset on the 23rd of April, 1815, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Austin (nee Shoobert). Cornelia’s father, Thomas Austin, was “a haberdasher, bookseller and undertaker". Cornelia's maternal Grandfather John Conrad Schubert came from Sachsen in Germany. Maybe some family connection here that instigated the import of wool thread from Germany to Britain? Cornelia and Mary's parents had both died by 1830. A young Cornelia continued to run the family business of ' Austin’s Berlin Wool, French Silk and Embroidery Rooms'. Cornelia married widower Charles Mee in 1837. She and her sister Mary Battle Austin ran woolwork shops and wrote and published prolifically many publications on knitting, crochet, tatting and needlework throughout the 1840 to 1870s period. Cornelia Mee was a major figure in the popularisation of knitting, crochet and needlework in the 19th century. Her published patterns were so very popular. She also marketed the products for those patterns that she was retailing in her shop!

Ultimately Cornelia, her husband Charles and sister Mary were very successful 19th century business people who expanded their needlework business over 30 years. In 1841, Cornelia and her husband Charles had a German Wool Warehouse called 'Mrs Mee's Berlin Wool, Needlework and Embroidery Rooms' at 41 Milsom St, Bath where they advertised selling Berlin Patterns, Embroidery and Haberdashery etc. At these premises they employed sister Mary as one of five shop workers, and they also employed 5 apprentices. By 1851, they were at 18, Daniel Street in Bath, with their three daughters, sister Mary, and three servants. By 1858 they had moved to 229 Regent Street, London. It is probable that they now ran a chain of wool/ sewing supply shops in Bath, London and further afield. Cornelia also contributed exhibits to the Great Exhibition, London in 1851. Her most famous written publication was 'The Worktable'. By the 1871 census they are all shown as living at 8 Brook Street, London. Occupations given as owner of Berlin Wool Shop, sister Mary listed as Business partner.

Please see another publication by the same author, seen in last image, retailed individually.

Item id:14934