DATE: circa 19th century-1969
CREATOR: Darley, Felix Octavius Carr (1822-1888)
ABSTRACT: Felix Darley illustrations and documents, including prints, banknotes, and payment ledgers.
HISTORY: Felix Octavius Carr Darley (1822-1888), or F.O.C. Darley, was an American artist who illustrated books for Charles Dickens, Edgar Allen Poe, Washington Irving, James Fenimore Cooper, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Alfred Lord Tennyson, among others. His techniques include engraving, wash drawing, woodcut, and lithography.
In the 19th century, the growing printing industry and book trade meant that more Americans than ever before could purchase books. As a result, Darley’s work reached a large audience, and he helped establish illustration as an art form. Many examples of his work can be found in the Mercantile Library's nineteenth century book collections. In addition to books, Darley provided illustrations for banknotes, magazines, and other publications.
ACCESS: This is collection M-156. This collection is available for on-site use only in the Rare Book and Manuscripts Reading Room. Some of the collection may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, depending on condition. Researchers are advised to call ahead concerning changes in hours due to University intersessions and holidays. The St. Louis Mercantile Library is located on levels one and two of the Thomas Jefferson Library building. More information about conducting research with the archival collections of the Library, including current building hours and reading room policies, can be found on our Research page.
An exhibition catalog with selected illustrations for Special Collection M-156 is available on site, titled Stories on Stone: The Darley Lithographs for "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" & "Rip Van Winkle."
Preferred Citation: The preferred citation for this collection is “From the Special Collections of the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri – St. Louis.”
COLLECTION INVENTORY
Series 1: Banknote Collection
Folder containing 15 banknote illustrations, circa 1860:
- “Indian Camp,” V-47542, American Bank Note Company, no date
- “The Zouave,” V-47627, American Bank Note Company, no date
- Untitled [campsite with men and animals], V-47819, American Bank Note Company, no date
- Untitled [man, likely James W. Marshall, discovering gold], V-47536, American Bank Note Company, no date
- Untitled [men riding horses in the American West], V-48243, American Bank Note Company, 1866
- Untitled [sailors on the shore], V-48194, Continental Bank Note Company, no date
- Untitled [Native Americans preparing to attack covered wagons], V-48248, Continental Bank Note Company, 1868
- Untitled [blacksmith shop], V-48226, Continental Bank Note Company, 1865
- Untitled [scene of the American West; ocean vessels, miners, loggers, surveyors, Native Americans, trains, steamboats, towns], V-48206, Continental Bank Note Company, no date
- Untitled [men and animals at camp with pickaxe, gold pan, and other tools], V-47750, Continental Bank Note Company, 1866
- Untitled [wild horses on the plains], V-47745, Continental Bank Note Company, 1866
- Untitled [sailors loading cargo onto ocean vessel], V-48033, Continental Bank Note Company, no date
- Untitled [men with sheep], V-48158, Continental Bank Note Company, no date
- “The Mill Door,” V-41613, Toppan, Carpenter & Co., 1856
- Untitled [woman harvesting wheat], V-41841, Toppan, Carpenter & Co., no date
American Bank Note Company ledger showing payments to F.O.C. Darley. 1861.
Article titled "Felix O.C. Darley: Bank Note Artist, 1822-1888" from the Essay-Proof Journal. Reproduction. Article published 1961, reproduced 1966.
Transcript of letters between F.O.C. Darley and the Continental Bank Note Company. Reproduction. 1864.
Letter concerning the transfer of F.O.C. Darley materials from the American Bank Note Company to Bank of America. 1969.
