Cat Ink Drawing After Louis Wain & Man Caricature, Down Hall Harlow Essex c1900

Description: An original ink drawing on Down Hall, Harlow printed lettersheet, dating to around c.1900. The sheet carries two charming amateur illustrations:

1. A cat walking upright, carrying bagpipes under its arm, accompanied by the handwritten rhyme: “Pussy-Cat She came out of the Barn— With her Bagpipes under her arm—” The style is Wain‑adjacent, with the upright posture and whimsical character strongly reminiscent of the popular Louis Wain cat tradition of the late Victorian/Edwardian period. This is not claimed as Wain himself, but is offered as “After Louis Wain” in the sense of stylistic influence.

2. A small caricature of a man on the front of the same sheet — round‑faced, hands in pockets, drawn in the same playful hand. Almost certainly by the same amateur artist.

The printed stationery header reads: DOWN HALL, HARLOW. Telegrams: Hatfield Heath. This style of header is typical of 1895–1905, aligning with the period when Lord Rookwood and later Captain Horace Calverley occupied the estate. The drawings themselves appear to be casual domestic doodles made on household paper rather than formal correspondence.

Condition: see images, there is a short tear to RHS of mans feet. Jagged, but clean.

Reverse shows the cat illustration; front shows the man caricature.

The sheet originates from Down Hall, Harlow, Essex, during the late Victorian/early Edwardian period. The drawings are almost certainly by an unidentified amateur hand — possibly a guest, family member, or staff — and are not attributed to any known artist. The “After Louis Wain” description refers solely to stylistic resemblance.

Condition as photos. All items can be returned for a full refund if found to be not as described.