1991 Great Britain First Day Cover, featuring a single stamp and an illustration of Thomas Bewick’s "Large Rough Water Dog."

Key Points

• This product is a 1991 Great Britain First Day Cover, featuring a single stamp and an illustration of Thomas Bewick’s "Large Rough Water Dog."
• It includes a 33-pence stamp depicting George Stubbs’ painting "A Rough Dog," postmarked on January 8, 1991, in Edinburgh by the British Philatelic Bureau.
• The cover honors Thomas Bewick, an English engraver and naturalist, and his depiction of the "Large Rough Water Dog," part of a series celebrating British art and natural history.
• As a collectible, it is likely valued between $5 and $15, depending on condition and market demand.

Product Overview

The 1991 Great Britain First Day Cover is a philatelic item celebrating the work of Thomas Bewick, a renowned English engraver and naturalist. Featuring a detailed illustration of Bewick’s "Large Rough Water Dog" and a 33-pence stamp showcasing George Stubbs’ painting "A Rough Dog," this cover highlights British art and natural history. Issued by the British Philatelic Bureau, it’s a perfect addition for collectors of British stamps, art history, and natural history memorabilia, offering a unique glimpse into the legacy of two influential artists.

Historical Context

Thomas Bewick (1753–1828) was a pivotal figure in the history of British art and natural history, best known for his detailed wood engravings of animals and birds, particularly in works like A General History of Quadrupeds (1790) and History of British Birds (1797–1804). His engraving of the "Large Rough Water Dog," depicted on this cover, reflects his skill in capturing the natural world with precision and artistry. The 1991 issuance of this first day cover, part of a series celebrating British art, coincides with a renewed interest in Bewick’s contributions to illustration and natural history during the late 20th century. The stamp, featuring George Stubbs’ "A Rough Dog," connects two artists known for their depictions of animals, with Stubbs (1724–1806) being a leading 18th-century painter of horses and dogs, often commissioned by British aristocracy.

Collectible Value

First day covers from Great Britain, especially those issued by the British Philatelic Bureau, are popular among collectors for their quality and historical themes. This 1991 cover, with its clear postmark, detailed illustration, and well-preserved condition, is likely valued between $5 and $15, based on typical market trends for similar items. Its focus on Thomas Bewick and George Stubbs, combined with its artistic and natural history theme, enhances its appeal to collectors of British stamps, art history, and natural history memorabilia.

Unexpected Detail: The "Large Rough Water Dog" and the Newfoundland Breed

An interesting aspect of this cover is the historical significance of the "Large Rough Water Dog" depicted by Thomas Bewick. This illustration is often associated with the early depiction of the Newfoundland dog, a breed known for its thick fur, gentle temperament, and prowess in water rescue. Bewick’s engraving, published in A General History of Quadrupeds, is one of the earliest detailed representations of the breed, which was brought to England from Newfoundland in the 18th century. The Newfoundland dog later became famous for its lifesaving abilities, with stories of the breed rescuing sailors and swimmers. This cover, by featuring Bewick’s work, indirectly celebrates the legacy of the Newfoundland breed, connecting art, natural history, and canine heritage.

Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of the 1991 Great Britain Thomas Bewick First Day Cover

This section provides a comprehensive examination of the 1991 Great Britain First Day Cover, exploring its features, historical context, and collectible value. The cover, analyzed through the provided image, is a philatelic item that celebrates the work of Thomas Bewick and British art, making it a valuable piece for collectors of British stamps, art, and natural history.

Product Description and Features

The 1991 Great Britain First Day Cover is a collectible envelope designed to honor Thomas Bewick, an English engraver and naturalist, featuring his illustration of the "Large Rough Water Dog." The cover showcases a detailed engraving of the dog in a reddish-brown hue, set against a background that includes a landscape with trees, a sailboat, and a distant building, reflecting Bewick’s style of combining natural subjects with scenic elements. The text "Thomas Bewick – Large Rough Water Dog" is printed below the illustration in red.

Affixed to the cover is a single 33-pence stamp, part of a 1991 British series celebrating art and animals. The stamp features George Stubbs’ painting "A Rough Dog," depicting a shaggy dog lying down, with a tree and landscape in the background. The stamp is labeled "A Rough Dog – George Stubbs" and has a denomination of 33 pence. It is postmarked with a circular cancellation reading "British Philatelic Bureau – First Day of Issue – 8 Jan 1991 – Edinburgh," confirming its first day of issue status. The cover’s condition appears excellent, with no visible tears, stains, or creases, preserving its visual and collectible value.

Historical Significance and Context

Thomas Bewick (1753–1828) was a pioneering English engraver and naturalist, renowned for revolutionizing wood engraving techniques in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His detailed illustrations of animals and birds, often accompanied by scenic vignettes, brought a new level of artistry to natural history books. Bewick’s A General History of Quadrupeds (1790) and History of British Birds (1797–1804) are considered landmarks in publishing, blending scientific observation with artistic beauty. The "Large Rough Water Dog" featured on this cover is one of Bewick’s engravings from A General History of Quadrupeds, showcasing his ability to capture the texture and character of animals.

The stamp on the cover features a painting by George Stubbs (1724–1806), a leading 18th-century British artist known for his anatomical precision in depicting animals, particularly horses and dogs. Stubbs’ "A Rough Dog" reflects his skill in portraying the natural world, often commissioned by aristocratic patrons to paint their prized animals. The pairing of Bewick and Stubbs on this cover highlights two artists who contributed significantly to British art and natural history, with Bewick’s engravings and Stubbs’ paintings representing different but complementary approaches to animal depiction.

The issuance of this first day cover on January 8, 1991, by the British Philatelic Bureau reflects a broader trend in the late 20th century of celebrating British cultural heritage through philately. The 1991 series, which included this stamp, likely aimed to honor the intersection of art and natural history, appealing to collectors interested in both fields.

Collectible Value and Market Analysis

First day covers issued by the British Philatelic Bureau are highly regarded among collectors for their quality, design, and historical themes. The 1991 Thomas Bewick cover, with its clear postmark, detailed illustration, and well-preserved condition, is likely valued between $5 and $15, based on market trends for similar items. For example, British first day covers from the 1990s often sell on platforms like eBay or through stamp dealers in this price range, with variations depending on condition, rarity, and the popularity of the theme. The cover’s focus on Thomas Bewick and George Stubbs, combined with its artistic and natural history theme, enhances its appeal to collectors of British stamps, art history, and natural history memorabilia.

Detailed Stamp Analysis

The 33-pence stamp on the cover is part of a 1991 Great Britain series celebrating British art and animals. The stamp features George Stubbs’ painting "A Rough Dog," depicting a shaggy dog lying down, with a tree and landscape in the background. The stamp is labeled "A Rough Dog – George Stubbs" and has a denomination of 33 pence, reflecting the standard first-class postage rate in the UK in 1991 (the rate increased to 33p in 1990). The design uses a muted color palette of greens, browns, and grays, capturing the naturalistic style of Stubbs’ work. The stamp’s placement on the cover, along with the clear Edinburgh postmark from the British Philatelic Bureau, enhances the item’s philatelic appeal.

Comparative Analysis with Other Collectibles

Unlike the U.S. Bicentennial-themed first day covers you previously provided (e.g., from Mauritania, Mali, Maldives, Luxembourg, and Liberia, valued at $5–$20), this 1991 Great Britain cover shifts focus to British art and natural history, appealing to a different collector base. Compared to other British first day covers from the 1990s, such as those celebrating royal events or literary figures (often valued at $5–$20), this cover stands out for its focus on art and animals, a less common theme. Compared to other art-related memorabilia, such as prints of Bewick’s engravings or Stubbs’ paintings, this first day cover offers a more affordable way to own a piece of art history. A high-quality print of a Bewick engraving might fetch $50–$100, while this cover provides an accessible entry point for collectors.

Unexpected Historical Detail: The "Large Rough Water Dog" and the Newfoundland Breed

An intriguing aspect of this cover is the historical significance of the "Large Rough Water Dog" depicted by Thomas Bewick. This engraving, published in A General History of Quadrupeds (1790), is often cited as one of the earliest detailed representations of the Newfoundland dog, a breed known for its thick fur, gentle temperament, and prowess in water rescue. The Newfoundland breed was brought to England from the island of Newfoundland in the 18th century, where it was used by fishermen for its swimming ability and strength. The breed later became famous for its lifesaving abilities, with documented stories of Newfoundlands rescuing sailors and swimmers, such as the dog that saved Napoleon Bonaparte during his escape from Elba in 1815. Bewick’s engraving captures the breed’s characteristic shaggy coat and sturdy build, and this cover, by featuring the "Large Rough Water Dog," indirectly celebrates the legacy of the Newfoundland breed, connecting art, natural history, and canine heritage.

Table: Summary of Key Features

Conclusion

The 1991 Great Britain Thomas Bewick First Day Cover is a historically significant collectible that celebrates the work of Thomas Bewick and British art through the depiction of the "Large Rough Water Dog." Its detailed illustration, clear postmark, and connection to George Stubbs’ "A Rough Dog" make it a standout piece for collectors of British stamps, art history, and natural history. Whether you’re interested in Bewick’s engravings, Stubbs’ paintings, or the history of the Newfoundland breed, this cover offers a unique blend of cultural and historical value, reflecting Britain’s rich tradition of art and natural history illustration.