This wooden bookmark was made in 1832.  It features shapely and intricate designs on the front, and a heart-felt message of the back: “When This You See Remember Me. Ann Harrison. Jan 12th 1832”.

This bookmark was likely made by a child, who used the medium to demonstrate her skills and practise carving techniques.  Her name, Ann Harrison, and the date it was finished, January 12 1832, both claims her as the maker of the bookmark, while acting as an indicator of her skills at this time.

Although its connection to Hurworth Cottage and the Atkinson family is unclear, the craftsmanship, delicacy and thought placed in the creation of the bookmark, along with its age, make it a special and dear collection item.

Sir Harry Atkinson was appointed to New Zealand’s Executive Council in 1875.  This document is the official letter confirming this appointment.

The document is signed by Lord Normanby, Governor of New Zealand (1874-1878), and features the embossed New Zealand Public Seal.  Atkinson’s appointment to the Executive Council, which consisted of Crown servants who were responsible to the Crown, was another achievement in his political career.  Atkinson had been elected to parliament, representing the Taranaki electorate, in 1861 and remained a figure in politics until his death in 1892.  During this time Atkinson had served four terms as the Premier of New Zealand, with his last term in 1891.

These three blonde locks of hair are believed to be from Samuel, Alice and Harry Atkinson, the children of Sir Harry Atkinson and his second wife, Annie.  The end of each piece of hair is tied with a blue silk bow.

Reasons for presenting such a keep-sake vary; during the Victorian era, human hair was often kept as a symbol of mourning; however in this instance, the Atkinson children's hair may have been kept as a memento of childhood, or as a symbol of a first hair cut.

Monica Brewster is well-known for her New Plymouth connections, in particular her generous establishment of the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery.  She also has a connection with Hurworth Cottage, being the granddaughter of its builder and first inhabitant, Harry Atkinson.

In 1920, Monica married fellow New Plymouth resident, Dr Rex Carrington Brewster.  The couple had met on board the ‘Kagoma’, when Monica and her mother, Frances Govett (nee Atkinson) were returning to New Zealand from a trip to Europe.

This small ‘Book of Common Prayer’ and combined ‘Hymnal’ was a wedding gift to the Rex and Monica Brewster, and features a dedication to the couple, who married at Saint John’s Church, in Wanganui, on the 21^st of September 1920.  The ‘Book of Common Prayer’ was published by the Oxford University Press, and comes enclosed in a woven harakeke pouch. 

Hurworth Cottage was given to the NZHPT in 1967, and at her death in 1973, Monica bequeathed a large portion of her library, including this book, to the Cottage.

X Rays magazine provided a social commentary on political matters, and contained caricatures, poems and articles on various politicians and their views.  This particular issue, (number 12, printed on December 5 1896) makes mention of Mr Arthur Richmond Atkinson, a nephew of Sir Harry Atkinson.

Priced at one penny, X Rays was published by R Coupland Harding, a Wellington based company established by Robert Coupland Harding in 1892.  Robert Harding was a printer, journalist and critic, and was highly regarded in these fields.