G. G. White is not a known name in the card collecting world. But as an illustrator of books his works are very collectible. You shall now learn how the two worlds crossed paths.
George Gorgas White was born to Quaker parents in, or near, Philadelphia about 1830. No record has been found by researchers proving the exact time and place. He does show up as a graduate of Philadelphia Central high school in 1844 after attending for two years and two months. At that time most only attended for three years. After that we know he went on to local Girard College. Girard's was known at the time for their restriction that students must be "poor, white, male and generally orphans." It was there that George probably learned his woodworking skill and art knowledge.
George Gorgas White was born to Quaker parents in, or near, Philadelphia about 1830. No record has been found by researchers proving the exact time and place. He does show up as a graduate of Philadelphia Central high school in 1844 after attending for two years and two months. At that time most only attended for three years. After that we know he went on to local Girard College. Girard's was known at the time for their restriction that students must be "poor, white, male and generally orphans." It was there that George probably learned his woodworking skill and art knowledge.
After college he was said to have joined the gold rush and went to California and then spent some time in South America.
Between 1853 and 1861 he is back in Philadelphia and being listed as a “Designer On Wood” in the city directory. In 1859 he is illustrating books for G. G. Evans. During the late 1850s and early 1860s, there were five gift book establishments in Philadelphia and agents sold for them in the smaller towns. G. G. Evans was the biggest and—as he continually argued in his broadsides and catalogs—the first gift book establishment in the United States. Images of the interior of his store depict an elegant showroom with busts of famous writers and well-dressed men and women perusing the books and gifts. This gave the impression of sophistication and legitimacy, when it was actually a somewhat tawdry operation. Evans' business plan revolved around the idea of someone buying a book at or below list price and receiving along with that book a gift. (bracelets, pins, pens, knives, etc.) Evans noted that he was getting the books so cheaply and in such great numbers that this "gift" idea made economic sense.
Becoming well known for his book illustrations he moved to the New York City area and was the principal illustrator for Vanity Fair and Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, later renamed Leslie's Weekly. He worked as a war correspondent for Leslie's and after the war opened a studio. He made a specialty of illustrating schoolbooks and novels.
One of George G White's early illustrations with his name in the corner.
His illustration for Leslie's Weekly called "Peace or War"
In 1867 he painted the famous “Father, I Cannot Tell A Lie” which was shortly after engraved by John C. McRae.
Becoming well known in the book illustrating world he moved on to commercial success by starting his own mail order art design course called Art Studies. It is still popular today. And ad in 1874 says this;
White's Progressive Art Studies
A complete course in Drawing for Schools, Academies, Seminaries and Private Learners issued in the form of Cards neatly encased in envelopes of twelve each with an accompanying Manual of Instructions and sheets of blank drawing paper. Primary by mail 27 cents. Teachers Manual 27 cents. Exercise Paper 18 cents. Blackboard Chart $1.80. Elementary Series A, B, C, D by mail 54 cents each. Landscape Series A, B, C by mail 54 cents each. Ornamental Series A, B by mail is 40 cents each. Instrumental Series A, B, C by mail 54 cents each.
White's Progressive Art Studies
A complete course in Drawing for Schools, Academies, Seminaries and Private Learners issued in the form of Cards neatly encased in envelopes of twelve each with an accompanying Manual of Instructions and sheets of blank drawing paper. Primary by mail 27 cents. Teachers Manual 27 cents. Exercise Paper 18 cents. Blackboard Chart $1.80. Elementary Series A, B, C, D by mail 54 cents each. Landscape Series A, B, C by mail 54 cents each. Ornamental Series A, B by mail is 40 cents each. Instrumental Series A, B, C by mail 54 cents each.
The New York Consolidated Card Company (NYCC) was formed in 1871 by the merging of three earlier firms which had flourished during the mid-19th century. These were Lawrence & Cohen (which had been founded in 1832 by Lewis I. Cohen), Samuel Hart & Co (founded c.1849 by Samuel Hart) and John J. Levy. By 1882 they are looking for a new Ace of Spades design and approach George. In December of 1882 he designs, and patents, the Ace of Spades for the “Gem 53” deck. NYCC ends up making a couple different versions.
This is George's Patented Design
Another Version NYCC Used of George's Design
And Another Version
Later in life White did all sorts of hack work the quality and character of which reflected on him but small credit. One especially was woodcut engravings for the Police Gazette. It has been described as the forerunner of the men's lifestyle magazine, illustrated sports weekly, the girlie/pin-up magazine, celebrity gossip column, Guinness World Records-style competitions, and modern tabloid/sensational journalism magazine.
Editor Richard K. Fox was notorious for not giving credit to his artists and writers. There were virtually no bylines on Police Gazette stories, as well as no artist signatures on the illustrations.
But the woodcut artists were first class. One couldn’t find better quality in the medium of woodcut engraving. Though artists for individual works can't be identified, it is well known that White did illustrations for the late 19th century Police Gazette.
During his time in New York City he belonged to two famous, and still very active, clubs. These were the Salamagundi and Lotos Clubs.
Salamagundi, founded in 1871, was originally called the New York Sketch Class and had its beginnings at the eastern edge of Greenwich Village in sculptor Jonathan Scott Hartley's Broadway studio, where a group of artists, students, and friends at the National Academy of Design hung out.
Salamagundi, founded in 1871, was originally called the New York Sketch Class and had its beginnings at the eastern edge of Greenwich Village in sculptor Jonathan Scott Hartley's Broadway studio, where a group of artists, students, and friends at the National Academy of Design hung out.
Salamagundi Art Gallery
The Lotos Club was founded in 1870 as a gentlemen's club in New York City; it has since also admitted women as members. Its founders were primarily a young group of writers and critics. Mark Twain, an early member, called it the "Ace of Clubs" (Twain was there at the same time as George) The Lotos Club has always had a literary and artistic bent, with the result that it has accumulated a noted collection of American paintings.
The Lotos Club Library
George died on February 24th 1898 in Philadelphia. He was buried in the Laurel Hill Cemetery in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia overlooking the Schuylkill River. It contains over 11,000 family lots and more than 33,000 graves, many adorned with grand marble and granite funerary monuments, elaborately sculpted hillside tombs and mausoleums. In 1977, Laurel Hill Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and in 1998, became the first cemetery in the United States to be designated a National Historic Landmark. Even as well known as George was in his day he is not even list as one of “The Famous People” buried there.