Collection Online
Puss in Boots
Medium
wood-engraving on chine collé
Measurements
18.7 × 17.0 cm irreg. (image) 35.8 × 31.6 cm (sheet)
Inscription
printed in ink (in image) l.r.: Linley Sambourne / inv.t et del.t 18(…illeg.)
inscribed in pencil u.r.: Line / above / mouth / on Reflection / on Policemans / Cape / cut out
inscribed in pencil l.l.: The cats / head is the / worst thing / (…illeg.) cat / in all the / series
inscribed in pencil l.c.: claw of cat (next to small sketch of cat’s claw)
inscribed in pencil l.l.: 2 Lines / over the coat / of cat
Accession Number
771.2-2
Departments
International Prints / International Prints and Drawings
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1906
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of the Joe White Bequest
Gallery location
Gallery 17
Level 3, NGV Australia
About this work

It is not known who first wrote the fairytale Puss in Boots, but it dates to at least the sixteenth century. The fact that the story has endured well into the twenty-first century is indicative of the popularity of fictional cats imbued with human qualities. Anthropomorphic tales provide great creative freedom for the author and illustrator to use their imaginations, and often form a central aspect of children’s fables.

Subjects (general)
Animals Human Figures Literary and Text
Subjects (specific)
barrels (containers) children's stories domestic cat (species) fighting literary characters police officers revellers