Marcus Ward & Co
Encyclopedia
Marcus Ward and Co. had its beginnings back in 1802 with a partnership between John Ward
, James Blow and Robert Greenfield. By the 1820s they owned paper mill
s in Belfast, Comber and Coleraine which operated under the company name of John Ward and Sons. It was in the early 1830s that Marcus Ward
(son of John Ward) took over the running of the Belfast paper mill. Then in the mid 1830s Marcus formed a new company called Marcus Ward & Sons based in Belfast. Marcus gave the company a new direction in stationery and general publishing. Marcus Ward and Sons soon became very successful in the area of colour lithography winning a medal at the Great Exhibition
of 1851. By the time Marcus died in 1847 his three sons Francis, William and John had successfully taken over the running of the business. (In later life John was an FSA, committee member of the Egypt Exploration Society
and author of several titles on middle eastern archaeology
, sometimes illustrated by his own watercolours.)
In the 1860s Marcus Ward & Co began mass producing calendars and greeting card
s. Initially they printed cards for other publishers such as Goodall and Charles Bennett
. By the late 1860s they began printing greeting cards under their own name. This venture turned out to be very successful, the company engaging Thomas Crane
as artistic director
and talented artists such as Kate Greenaway
and Walter Crane
as illustrators. In the early years of card production they marked the reverse with their trademark. In later years the company name was printed on the front side of their greeting cards.
John Ward
John Ward may refer to:*John Ward , English composer*John Ward , English Gresham Professor of Rhetoric*John Ward , Lord Mayor of London...
, James Blow and Robert Greenfield. By the 1820s they owned paper mill
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
s in Belfast, Comber and Coleraine which operated under the company name of John Ward and Sons. It was in the early 1830s that Marcus Ward
Marcus Lawrence Ward
Marcus Lawrence Ward was an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 21st Governor of New Jersey from 1866–1869, and represented the state in Congress for one term, from 1873-1875....
(son of John Ward) took over the running of the Belfast paper mill. Then in the mid 1830s Marcus formed a new company called Marcus Ward & Sons based in Belfast. Marcus gave the company a new direction in stationery and general publishing. Marcus Ward and Sons soon became very successful in the area of colour lithography winning a medal at the Great Exhibition
The Great Exhibition
The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations or The Great Exhibition, sometimes referred to as the Crystal Palace Exhibition in reference to the temporary structure in which it was held, was an international exhibition that took place in Hyde Park, London, from 1 May to 15 October...
of 1851. By the time Marcus died in 1847 his three sons Francis, William and John had successfully taken over the running of the business. (In later life John was an FSA, committee member of the Egypt Exploration Society
Egypt Exploration Society
The Egypt Exploration Society is the foremost learned society in the United Kingdom promoting the field of Egyptology....
and author of several titles on middle eastern archaeology
Near Eastern archaeology
Near Eastern Archaeology is a regional branch of the wider, global discipline of Archaeology...
, sometimes illustrated by his own watercolours.)
In the 1860s Marcus Ward & Co began mass producing calendars and greeting card
Greeting card
A greeting card is an illustrated, folded card featuring an expression of friendship or other sentiment. Although greeting cards are usually given on special occasions such as birthdays, Christmas or other holidays, they are also sent to convey thanks or express other feeling. Greeting cards,...
s. Initially they printed cards for other publishers such as Goodall and Charles Bennett
Charles Bennett
Charles Bennett may refer to:* Charles Bennet, 4th Earl of Tankerville, cricket pioneer, * Charles Bennett , British track and field athlete, most notable for 1500m events* Charles Bennett...
. By the late 1860s they began printing greeting cards under their own name. This venture turned out to be very successful, the company engaging Thomas Crane
Thomas Crane
Thomas Crane was born at Chester in 1808. Showing early a taste for art, in 1824 he came up to London, where he joined the schools of the Academy, and remained two years, obtaining, in 1825, the medal for his drawings from the antique...
as artistic director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
and talented artists such as Kate Greenaway
Kate Greenaway
Catherine Greenaway , known as Kate Greenaway, was an English children's book illustrator and writer, who spent much of her childhood at Rolleston, Nottinghamshire. She studied at what is now the Royal College of Art in London, which at that time had a separate section for women, and was headed by...
and Walter Crane
Walter Crane
Walter Crane was an English artist and book illustrator. He is considered to be the most prolific and influential children’s book creator of his generation and, along with Randolph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway, one of the strongest contributors to the child's nursery motif that the genre of...
as illustrators. In the early years of card production they marked the reverse with their trademark. In later years the company name was printed on the front side of their greeting cards.