Bacon's Excelsior Emulation Ladder, St. Boniface's Girls' School, 1918, G.W. Bacon & Co,

A fascinating survival from the early twentieth-century classroom, Bacon's Excelsior Emulation Ladder was designed as a visual record of pupils' academic achievement, encouraging diligence and competition by ranking each girl's progress on a printed ladder of attainment. Such classroom wall charts were intended to motivate pupils through the Victorian and Edwardian ideals of industry and self-improvement, but relatively few survive, especially with their original manuscript entries still intact.

On offer here is Bacon's Excelsior Emulation Ladder, a chart used in schools to record and rank pupils' attainment. This example was completed for St. Boniface's Girls' School, believed to be in Plymouth, during 1918.

Contemporary manuscript inscriptions record the chart's use at St. Boniface's Girls' School during the Easter term of 1918, identifying it as "Std. 6 T." and listing the names and rankings of thirty-three pupils. Headed by the highest-scoring pupil, Miss G. Creamore, the completed chart provides a rare and engaging snapshot of classroom life in the closing months of the First World War.

Published by G. W. Bacon & Co. Ltd., 127 Strand, London. This is the version produced for girls' schools. G. W. Bacon & Co. also issued a corresponding version for boys' schools.

In good condition overall. With some light spotting, toning, and traces of old creasing. Age toning and discoloration to the reverse. Housed in its contemporary dark hardwood frame with original early twentieth-century glass.

Please note: For mainland UK orders this will be supplied fully framed. For overseas destinations the chart will be supplied without the frame, owing to the high risk of damage in transit.

Language: English.

Dimensions:
Framed: approximately 610mm high x 434mm wide x 35mm deep.
Unframed: approximately 560mm high x 353mm wide.

Weight approximately 3.7kg (framed set - unpacked).