Prize Certificate Issued by the Edinburgh Institute (Mr Oliphant’s School)

An anonymous designer

Brown and gold print on white paper with handwritten inscription

5 x 4 inches

The Voices of the Year, on front paste-down

Another example of an Oliphant prize, clearly signed by the proprietor and dated July 1879. The recipient is a Ms. Anna Giddings and the award is for elocution – one of the prime areas for study for young ladies attending a finishing school. The prize, cased in a binding by John Leighton, is an anthology of poetry, and is again one of the cheaper imprints; though published in 1865, it was not awarded until 1879. Was this book second-hand at the time of being presented?

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