The Brownies

"The Brownies" is a series of publications by Canadian illustrator and author Palmer Cox, based on names and elements from Celtic mythology and traditional highland Scottish stories told to Cox by his grandmother. Illustrations with verse aimed at children, "The Brownies" was published in magazines and books during the late 19th century and early 20th century. The Brownie characters became famous in their day, and at the peak of their popularity were a pioneering name brand within merchandising.

ynopsis

Not unlike fairies and goblins, Brownies are imaginary little sprites, who are supposed to delight in harmless pranks and helpful deeds. Never allowing themselves to be seen by mortal eyes, they are male, drawn to represent many professions and nationalities, all mischievous members of the fairy world whose principle attribute is helping with chores while a family sleeps.

Publication history

The first appearances of Brownie characters in a print publication took place already in 1879, but not until the February, 1881 issue of "Wide Awake" magazine were the creatures printed in their final form.Cite web|last=Don Markstein's Toonopedia|title=The Brownies (1881)|url=http://www.toonopedia.com/brownies.htm] The first proper story, "The Brownies' Ride", appeared in the February 1883 issue of the children's periodical "St. Nicholas Magazine".Cite web|last=Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon|title=The Brownies|url=http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/brownies/brownies.html]

Published in 1899, "The Brownies Abroad" is considered the first "Brownie" comic strip, though it didnt utilise speech balloons until the publication "The Brownie Clown of Brownie Town" of 1908.Cite web|last=Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon|title=Brownies comic strips|url=http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/brownies/brownies_strip.html] From 1903, "The Brownies" appeared as a newspaper Sunday strip for several years.

From the first compilation "The Brownies, Their Book", of 1887, there were published in all 16 books in the series until the last publication in 1918, just prior to Cox' death in 1924.

Merchandising

Beyond print publication, "The Brownies" was at least twice adapted to stage plays. With the rise in popularity of the Brownie characters, these were used in many venues of merchandising, such as games, blocks, cards, dolls, calendars, advertisements, package labels, mugs, plates, flags, soda pop, a slot machine, a bagatelle game and so forth. George Eastman applied the brand name in promotion of Kodak's "Brownie Camera", but Palmer Cox reportedly never received any money for the commercial use of his work.Cite web|last=Lambiek Comiclopedia|title=Palmer Cox|url=http://lambiek.net/artists/c/cox-palmer.htm] Cite web|last=Morgan|first=Wayne|title=Palmer Cox, the Brownie Craze, and the Brownie Camera|url=http://www.phsc.ca/Brownie2007.html]

ources

* [http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/brownies/bibliography.html "The Brownies" list of publications] ;Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.recess.ufl.edu/stories/brownie1.html "The Brownies at School" from "The Brownies: Their Book"] The Baldwin Library of Historical Children's Literature
* [http://members.home.nl/brownie.camera/palmer_cox_brownies.htm Palmer Cox and The Eastman Kodak Brownie camera]