ASHBEE, Edmund William (1828-1910) — London
Lithographer, engraver, printer & stationer; publisher; artist. As “Ashbee & Dangerfield”, with Frederick Dangerfield, lithographed Plan of the residency. Shewing the works constructed for the defence at Hyderabad, for Henry Geoge Briggs, “The Nizam” 1861; Carte indispensable pour les étrangers 1862, for W. Jeffs. After the partnership with Dangerfield ended, produced William Smith, “The particular description of England. 1588 : With views of some of the chief towns and armorial bearings of nobles and bishops”, edited by H. B. Wheatley, 1879, with a coloured map and plans. Known in particular for colour printing, facsimiles of Shakespeare quartos, the illuminated gift-books of Samuel Stanesby, etc. The British Museum has several examples of advertisements demonstrating facsimile work, as well as portraits and a trade-card.
Born in Clerkenwell 8 Jun 1828 and baptised 23 Nov 1828 at St. Pancras Old Church, the son of William Ashbee (1795?-1868), a brass-founder and lamp-maker, originally from Birmingham, and his wife Eliza Bray (1795-1872), originally from Havant, who had married the previous year. Apprenticed without fee (Stationers) to the bookseller John Jackson of Agar Street, Strand, 3 Feb 1846. Free (Stationers) 1 Mar 1853, but already trading as “Ashbee & Tuckett”, with John Tuckett, in 1851-1852, advertising specifically their ability to print “maps, plans, sections, &c”, alongside expertise in reproducing illustrations; title-pages; decorations; portraits; heraldic drawings; monumental brasses; deeds; charters; architectural, engineering & mechanical drawings; landscapes, and marine views, as well as ornamental writing, designing, and “every variety of illustrations required in the arts and sciences”. The partnership with Tuckett was dissolved by mutual consent 24 Jun 1852. Traded as “Ashbee & Dangerfield” with Frederick Dangerfield from 1852 until 31 Mar 1863, when that partnership too was dissolved by mutual consent. Recorded as a member of the Honourable Artillery Company in 1860. By 1861, then living with his parents in Rutland Street, he was employing nineteen men and nine boys. In 1862, he “announced that he has in preparation an exact full-size facsimile lithography of the [Shakespeare] folio of 1623” (Birmingham Journal, 22 Feb 1862). In 1868, he was a director of the Housekeepers’ Association. By 1871, he had moved to Mornington Crescent with his widowed mother. He had retired by 1881. He was a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and the Royal Geographical Society. He died 20 Jun 1910 and was buried at Camden Town 23 Jun 1910. Probate on effects of £3,249.7s.2d was granted 3 Aug 1910 to the public trustee and Miss Catherine Cullen, his former maidservant.
18 Broad Court, Long Acre — 1841-1855
22 Bedford Street, Long Acre — 1853-1863
14 Rutland Street, St. Pancras (home) — 1861
17 Mornington Crescent, St. Pancras (home) — 1868-1881
2 East View, Birchanger Road, South Norwood (home) — 1887
Lyndhurst, Albert Road, St. Lawrence, Ramsgate (home) — 1891
26 Canterbury Road, West Tarring (home) — 1901-1902
Harrow Road, Worthing (home) — 1903
136 Folkestone Road, Dover (home) — 1910
Apprentice: William Waskett Davis 1853.
BM. BNA. Census 1841-1881, 1901. GL. Hake. Hyde. LG. ROLLCO. Twyman. Wakeman & Bridson.