The introduction
of monthly
caricatures
turned the
publication
around almost
overnight. By
Bill Jackman .
'In 1868, a new
magazine called
Vanity Fair was
produced by
Thomas Gibson
Bowles
(1841-1922) a
London
gentleman.
Designed for the
wealthy society
people of the
day, it aimed to
expose the
vanities of
Victorian
Society while
offering the
readers articles
on many topics
such as fashion,
theatre, the
arts, social
events and
scandals at
first mostly
written by
Bowles. As the
magazine was
printed on the
finest quality
paper, both
advertisers and
retailers became
keen to be
involved with
such a popular
magazine
ensuring its
immediate
success...'
Margaret G. Powling investigates the appeal of
angling paraphernalia.
'When the
opportunity
arose to sample
a ‘taster’
fly-fishing
course at the
Arundell Arms in
Devon, I’ll
admit I was
apprehensive. I
quite liked the
idea of standing
by a trout
stream where I
imagined myself
experiencing an
Izaak Walton
moment of ‘calm
and quiet,’ but
when push came
to shove, could
I stomach
removing the
hook, presuming
of course that I
actually caught
a fish?...'
Golfiana, Christopher
Proudlove explains the drive behind collecting
golf memorabilia.
'The closest I
ever came to
enjoying golf as
a pastime was as
a schoolboy who
spent much of
his spare time
as a caddy at
the local golf
club. We used to
supplement our
meager weekend
earnings by
selling back the
‘lost’ golf
balls we found
(quite by
chance, you
understand) to
those amateurish
enough to lose
more than they
could afford.
What helped our
bank balance was
the fact that a
canal dissected
the course. A
long bamboo pole
with mother’s
kitchen strainer
tied to one end
was all we
needed to keep
the coppers
rolling in.....'
Collecting Olympic Memorablia.
By Clare Blake.
'Right across
the world,
athletes at the
top of their
profession are
united by a
common vision.
Giving them no
rest, it
occupies every
moment of their
waking days and
haunts their
dreams. This is
the ultimate
goal for which
they are willing
to sacrifice
everything – the
Olympic Games...'
Karyn Sparks travels to
Somerset to explore the Antiques Trail
in England's smallest city.
'WELLS, is a
popular tourist
destination, due
to its
historical
sites, its
proximity to
Bath and
Stonehenge and
closeness to
Wookey Hole
Caves, the
Mendip Hills and
the Somerset
Levels. Nestling
at the foot of
the Mendip
Hills, just
where the River
Axe emerges from
the fathomless
darkness of
Wookey Hole...'
