The title on f. 1r is ‘Book of Rydal Cartoons, drawn by H. E. Fox. (Trin. Coll.).’ and the binding is labelled 'Tibbiana' on the front. The significance of the latter is unclear. On the back of the front free endpaper are the inscriptions: ‘G. F. Cobb. Trin. Coll. Cambridge. Oct. 1863.’ and ‘Given to H. E. Fox by the Widow of his dear friend Ap. 1906.’
Most of the sketches are dated. The earliest date that appears is July 1862, and the latest December 1863, but it is possible that some of the drawings towards the end of the book were made early in 1864.
The earliest dated sketches (ff. 2r–4r) were made in July and August 1862 during an expedition in the Lake District, and those on ff. 5v–6v (and probably the one on f. 5r) were made in the same place in January the following year. Most of the rest (f. 7r onwards) were made either during a third visit to the Lake District between July and September 1863 or at Trinity College in November and December that year. These include, at the end (ff. 105r–112r), a humorous alphabet, dated in November. Many of the sketches relate to private jokes, the points of which are now obscure.
Sem título