I’m very excited to share with you that I recently acquired five original vintage prints of costumes designed by John Bloomfield for the BBC series, ‘The Six Wives of Henry VIII’, made in the early 1970s, and starring Australian actor Keith Michell as King Henry VIII. Michell won an Emmy Award for his performance that is still lauded by many as the definitive television portrayal of the Tudor king.
According to the BBC,
‘The authentic appearance of the court costumes was achieved by the ingenuity of designer John Bloomfield, who used painted cheap fabrics, glass and household washers to achieve the sumptuous period effect. Such was the interest in the programme that the costumes went on tour. The international success of Henry VIII led to the making of Elizabeth R, and established the BBC’s position as the pre-eminent producer of period drama.’
I am beyond grateful to my friend Dawn, who lives in bonny Scotland, for sourcing these prints for me and for taking the time to carefully package them and send them to me in Sydney. What a wonderful friend!
The prints are framed and ready to be hung in my study, which is slowly turning into a bit of a Tudor shrine…
Photograph of an original ‘working copy’ print of a costume designed by John Bloomfield, for the BBC Series ‘The Six Wives of Henry VIII’, worn by Keith Michell as a young Henry VIII.
Photograph of an original ‘working copy’ print of a costume designed by John Bloomfield, for the BBC Series ‘The Six Wives of Henry VIII’, worn by Keith Michell as Henry VIII.
Photograph of an original ‘working copy’ print of a costume designed by John Bloomfield, for the BBC Series ‘The Six Wives of Henry VIII’, worn by Annette Crosbie as Katherine of Aragon.
Photograph of an original ‘working copy’ print of a costume designed by John Bloomfield, for the BBC Series ‘The Six Wives of Henry VIII’, worn by Dorothy Tutin as Anne Boleyn.
Photograph of an original ‘working copy’ print of a costume designed by John Bloomfield, for the BBC Series ‘The Six Wives of Henry VIII’, worn by Elvie Hale as Anne of Cleves.
Needless to say, I am now on the look out for the three missing wives to complete the set: Anne Stallybrass as Jane Seymour, Angela Pleasence as Catherine Howard and Rosalie Crutchley as Katherine Parr.
Do get in touch with me if you know of anyone selling these prints or if you too have a collection. I’d love to see your pics!
I’ll add an updated photo of the prints once they’ve been hung in my study.
I look forward to hearing from you!
PS. As promised, here is a pic of the prints framed and hung! I decided to hang them in the upstairs lounge room instead of my study because there’s more wall space here, which means there is room enough for Jane Seymour, Catherine Howard and Katherine Parr to join the gang, eventually… 🙂
Update 5th March, 2017:
Thanks again to a wonderful friend, I added Jane Seymour and a third Henry VIII to my collection of John Bloomfield prints. Here they are in all their glory…
It appears that the only print I’m now missing is a fourth Henry VIII. Sadly, according to comments left after this post, the Catherine Howard and Katherine Parr prints were not released. What a pity!
The search is now on for the final Henry print. Wish me luck!
Really beautiful prints, Natalie. You acquired an authentic treasure! Really excited for see the photo of the prints hung in your study.
Congratulations for your acquisition! 😉
Thank you! I will definitely post a photo once they’re hung in my study. Watch this space!
Hi Natalie…i think i have the henry the 8th print your after
Could you send me a pic, Danny? natalie@onthetudortrail.com Thanks!
Those are very cool!
They sure are! Love them.
Wow! I can imagine just how happy this collection has made you. And what a brilliant friend Dawn is, I’m not envious at all! Two lovely ladies x
Aw, thanks Debs! Much love to you my friend. Nat x
I have come across 8 of these costume prints when clearing out a friends hose. 2 of Henry in different costumes +6 wives are they wort anything?
Better late than never Tina, l hope. Lucky you finding all the wives. I took one of mine to the antiques roadshow and I was told by the expert that they are only worth what you are willing to pay for them I’m afraid, my first on a cost me £2 framed, l have paid not a lot more for my other six either. Its only the originals that are worth anything, and they are locked up in the BBC archives. So sorry to be bearer of bad news. There are actually 3 Henry’s to my knowledge now, as l have bought it. If you want to sell any of them, if you aren’t keeping them. I would be very interested in buying at least two of them from you Tina
They look a treat Natalie. As you know l have the same ones as you, but have just acquired another costume print of Henry’s l didn’t know existed, so that’s 3 Henry’s now, plus l managed to find a Jane Seymour too. Only K. Howard and K. Parr to find before my set is complete…or is it? With that ‘extra’ Henry turning up l wonder if there are others too. Perhaps Cardinal Wolsey or some other main players in the Tudor court. Be interesting to find out. I did actually email the BBC to how many of the costumes where released as prints, but have had no response as yet. Anybody out there have an idea?
Hi, Natalie Just came across your site while looking at John Bloomfield’s costumes re-television series Six wives of Henry V111. I have a print of Henry’s costume as yet I’ve been unable to find it on any site ! on the reverse of the print is typed “Published by B.B.C, Enterprises London “–“First edition Jan 1971 Printed by Partridge & Love Ltd Bristol England ” It’s a working print of Henry’s costume with sample materials shown and he’s wearing red slippers and has a garter on his left leg ! I would post a photo to you if I get your Email address by return, would be nice to see how many of these prints were done ! yours sincerely David.
Hello David, I would love to see a pic of your Henry! Please email me at natalie @onthetudortrail.com (without spaces). Thank you!
Hi David, did you find out any more about your print? I have 5; 2 Henrys, Jane Seymour, Anne Boleyn and Anne of Cleves. They all have the same printed on the back as yours. Do you know if all the prints have this written on? I was given them by my godfather who worked for the BBC at that time.
Hi Natalie, I have just found your site, whilst searching for more information on 3 original costum design with fabric swatches sketches I have. They are from the play The Goverment Inspector, Sherman Theater, Cardiff. Signed John & Ann Bloomfield. Can anyone help me with any more information.
Kindest regards jenny
Just clearing my husband’s flat and have four of these:
Jane Seymour
Ann Boleyn
and two of Henry
I think that you have all of these anyway but can send pix if you like – and do you know anywhere I could post them for sale as have so many pix no room for these now
Rgds
Susan
Hi Susan, I’d love to see pics. Could you send them to me at natalie @ onthetudortrail.com? (Remove spaces)
Thank you! Natalie
Hi Nathalie,
My name is Jannie and I live in the Netherlands. I am a retired history teacher and have been interested in the Tudors since my teens when my mother gave me a book on Anne Boleyn. I recently bought a print of John Bloomfield costumes for the BBC series The six wives of Henry VIII.It is the costume of Anne Boleyn. I wanted to find out more about these prints so I searched on Google and found your site! Like you I am very interested in these prints and would like to collect them. Could you tell me a bit more about your collection, do you still have the 5 prints or did you manage to purchase more? Maybe you know an address where I could try to find the prints?(How many were published?) Or maybe someone who wants to sell them? I am willing to pay a good price.
By the way, I LOVE your site! I hope to hear from you!
Best wishes from the Netherlands,
Jannie.
Dear Jannie, lovely to “meet” you! Unfortunately, I have not been able to acquire any more of the prints. A friend of mine wrote to the BBC trying to find out how many prints were made etc. but I don’t think she received a reply. I think it’s a matter of searching on the internet and second hand stores, and keeping your fingers crossed! Good luck!
Thank you Natalie, I will certainly keep searching! Maybe there is someone who has one or more of the Bloomfield costume prints and wants to sell them? I will pay a very good price!
i have a few tudour bloomfield prints?
I have Ann boleyn on my bedroom wall.
My parents found it framed and in perfect condition dumped on the side of some street like trash, and they know how much I love the Tudor dynasty.
I’m one lucky kid ?
Yes, you are lucky Cristina! Interested in selling it? I will pay a good price!
Hi Natalie, found your site when looking at selling a few of these prints. I think you have the ones I have so perhaps Jannie might be interested but as its your site il email you pic of what I have and if Jannie puts her email address up I can talk to Jannie about the remaining prints.
(Loved them for many years but I’m moving house and they’re not going to work in new space. Glad they’ll be going to new homes that’ll love them)
Hi Annie, can l ask which ones you have
Hi Annie, yes, I would be very interested, but of course Dawn comes first! I already have 4 prints: two of Henry, one of Catherine of Aragon and one of Anne of Cleves. Hope to hear from you!
Is there someone with an Anne Boleyn who wants to sell?
Yippie!!!! I found 4 new Bloomfield prints: Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour and 2 unknown Henry’s! I am so excited, I just had to share this with you! My collection is slowly growing (8 prints), but I know there must be a lot more prints out there, so the search continues!
Anyone who has Bloomfield prints of Tudor costumes from the BBC series “The six wives of Henry VIII” and wants to sell them for a good price, please contact me or Natalie.
That’s wonderful, Jannie! Send me pics, I’d love to see them. x
I’ll try to send you some pictures Natalie, but I’m very clumsey with computers, I will have to ask my brother for assistance! I have 8 prints now: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves and 4 Henry’s. I saw that the queens are the same as you have, but I’ll try to send you pictures of the unknown Henry’s. How many prints do you have now? I know there are at least 3 other Anne Boleyn’s out there, how I wish I could lay my hand on these!
I have three Henry’s – one is Henry as a student – plus an Anne of Cleves
I have 4 Henry’s Sophy, all different and l do wish someone knew how many different prints where actually sold to the public… Its areal Tudor Mystery!! Haha
All these prints were sold at the 1971 exhibition at the V&A which then toured the country and then the world. It had originally been at Hampton Court in the summer of 1970. In January 1971 BBC launched the TV series. It was huge, the exhibition opened to coincide. It was the 1st time TV or Film costumes had had a major exhibition at a major museum. The queues were 2 hours long. I have postcards of the exhibition . There were 2 sets of 8 postcards one was 2 photos of Keith Michell and one of each wife, then 8 of costumes on dummies also there was a single of the music, a brochure and the 8 costume prints for sale along with a copy of Henry VIII’s seal. Also was a model with miniatures of Anne Boleyn’s execution. The exhibition then went to Sudeley, and Warwick Castles, I have the posters that advertised it. It then toured various countries round the world and I saw it again at Hampton Court in summer of 1980 or perhaps 81 along with costumes from Elizabethh R.
I have prints of Anne Boleyn, Anne of Cleves, Henry from episode 2 and Henry from episode 3. I would love to acquire the other 4. There was also a magazine brought out in 1973 to coincide with the film about both film and tv series.
I have 8 prints: 4 different Henry’s, Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour and Anne of Cleves. I know there are 3 more Anne Boleyn’s out there, I found them on the Internet. They were sold a long time ago and are impossible to trace. I also contacted the V&A, but they didn’t have any information on the exhibition in their archives, neither did they know anything about the prints. The original prints seem to have disappeared, even the BBC archives didn’t have any information. Aaahhh! Well, I have the postcards though, and also the magazine Timothy mentioned.But I keep on searching. Anyone who knows more about the 3 Anne Boleyn’s?
The 3 Anne Boleyn designs you mention are the original costume designs that were sold at auction in 2008. The are now in the James Gordon collection which is one of the largest collections of Ballet, Opera., Theatre, TV &Film costume designs in the world.it is private but will eventually be left to Glasgow university. There was a lecture last year apparently at the V&A by John Bloomfield about the series. The BBC sent me 4 of the prints in 1980, and info about the series, It was the department callled BBC Enterprises, long gone I should think. They sold off all there costumes about 5 years ago, but I suspect the 6wives had long since disintegrated.
Hello Timothy, thanks for that information. You say that you have 4 prints, 2 of Henry and 2 of his ladies, and that you would love the other 4 to make the set, yet there must be more than that, as l have 4 different Henry’s and 4 wives…its all quite confusing isn’t it. l have the brochure, card sets and a set of Elizabeth R series too. I also have the souvenir magazine, if its the one with all the extra facsimile type info with it. Anyway when Glasgow inherits the James Gordon collection l hope l’m still about to go and see it with me living in Scotland.
I am really miffed about missing the lecture by John Bloomfield, l would have definitely have travelled to have heard that…anyway however many different designs there are out there l would be happy just to get a print of the Katherine’s Howard and Parr!
There were only 8 prints so you have the complete set. There were 2 sets of postcards for Elizabeth R and also a brochure about the costumes along with a single of the music. But no costume prints.
Oh dear! I am so disappointed to hear that those were the only ones released. And how strange not to have done all six wives, especially Catherine Howard, as we all know how fascinating the ‘Executed Queens’ are to the majority of those with even the slightest interest in Tudor history…think l will go weep into a glass wine now, lol. Oh well at lest we know once and for all now. Did you remember all this from your visit as a young lad Timothy?
I bet you are disappointed too Jannie, especially after all your hard work researching..l know l feel very deflated knowing there are no more to be had…. 🙁
Yes I remember all this , I have a precise memory and was obsessed by the series, being away at school I only saw Catherine of Aragon, my mother recorded the others on her tape recorder for me. i saw the exhibition at the V&A once and can remember it well and the layout and shop. I chose which costume designs I wanted. I then saw it twice at Warwick a couple of years later and my mother and I drew the costumes So I could paint them at school. I saw them again in 1980 and photographed them. I can still draw most of them but of course have the series which I didn’t see until 1980.
Thank you Timothy for posting all the information! I think my quest ends here. I was particulary interested in the three Anne Boleyns that were sold in 2008, but I didn’t know they were original drawings. That declares that they were impossible to find. Obviously there were no prints made of them. What a luck for Mr.James Gordon, they were a real bargain then, sold under GBP 100. for all three! If there were only 8 prints that means that my set is complete too. No Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr then.
Could you give me some information on James Gordon? I never heard of him, but he seems an interesting person. Who is he, where does he live, where does he keep his collection? I will most certainly travel to Glasgow when they inherit his collection! By the way Timothy, I have a Henry and a Catherine of Aragon double. Please let me know if you are interested.
The James L Gordon Collection. He lives in London. I borrowed about 150 ballet designs for an exhibition in 2008. I would love to aquire the two designs you have. I have a poster for the exhibition if you are interested.
My email is timothymorganowen@yahoo.co.uk
Hello Timothy, I sent you an email but it came back twice. Did you receive it? If not, could you email me? My address is: b.stijntjes@planet.nl
I think i have missing costume sketched
Which one would that be Sara
Yes, I am very curious too!
Thought you might be Jannie ?
Yes, but I have little hope that unknown ones will show up. I think Timothy is right that there are only 8 prints. In that case our sets are complete.
Me too. Hope Sara answers soon
Hi, perhaps too late but a set of these prints is up for sale at my local auction house in Tenterden. I have posted the link https://www.easyliveauction.com/catalogue/lot/c5400196fefd1b596e94a5069e7159ae/0af8d24542e81eb9357e7ef448a6646f/antiques-collectables-furniture-and-jewellery-lot-161/
A little late but thanks for sharing!
I haven’t checked as yet, but are the four prints of Henry in costumes from each of the first four episodes? That would give each of the four wives a respective partner.
So it’s possible that there aren’t just the two” missing” wives, but a pair of unproduced Henry’s too!
Seems my suspicions were correct!
Catherine of Aragon can be seen in that dress design around five minutes into the first episode, while the younger Henry turns up, (without the pictured jacket/robe), twenty-three minutes in.
“Red” Henry is ten minutes into the second episode, but Anne Boleyn is a slight of a cheat as the costume design is from her brief appearance in the first episode. It’s not one that Dorothy Turin wears in “her” episode.
“Black” Henry is first seen fifty minutes into the third episode, and that’s Jane Seymour’s riding outfit from sixty-two minutes in.
Anne of Cleeves court dress makes its appearance sixteen minutes into the fourth episode, and “White” Henry is revealed about thirty-one minutes in, (though it can been glimpsed peaking out from beneath a heavy coat for a while before that).
How lovely that people are collecting John’s drawings. He was a dear friend and work colleague in the seventies and I worked with him on several productions, learning a great deal along the way. Good luck with finding all of them. He was very careful with the drawings and kept them safe. Not sure if they are in BBC archives, more likely John still has them. He went to Hollywood and worked on things like Waterworld and Mutiny on the Bounty
Thank you for saying hello, Anne! It would be wonderful to know how many drawings he made of Henry and his wives. If you have any idea, do let us know. Very best wishes, Natalie.
JB did designs for all the costumes in the series, as they were all made from scratch. It was an experiment to see how cheaply the series could be produced, unlike The Forsyte Saga and Elizabeth R. As I said before John Gordon has 43 of the original Anne Boleyn Designs, Angels have at least one. There were only 8 prints done to be sold at the V&A exhibition in spring 1971. I also have the poster which is rather a good design. It was the 1st exhibition in a major museum of tv or film costumes. Diana Vreeland then took the idea and did it at the Met in NYC in 74 with Hollywood costumes. Since then costumes have become a serious art form.
I have no idea to be honest. Have you tried to contact John directly? His bio is on the IMBd website so there may be contact details there. All I remember is him being very careful with his drawings. They always had to be returned to him by costume makers after the work was done. Jean Hunnisett was one and I think she has some costume making books on Amazon. He was always lovely to work with and I learnt such a lot from him. Have fun memories of sitting on the floor in a poky BBC dressing room cutting up old tyres for shoes for a programme – yes he was that hands on!
How lucky you are to have been a work colleague of John Bloomfield Anne. Hope you don’t mind me asking, what was your field of work was then
I was a costume designer and free lanced at the BBC in the seventies and early eighties. John was my mentor when I first went to the BBC and I consequently did several shows on tv and in the theatre with him
I have the full set of 8 and am thrilled! My friend’s parents had them displayed on their staircase for years and I asked them to let me have them if they ever wanted to get rid of them, so I bought them when they downsized. I’ve just re-framed them and they’re ready to hang!
I love the Tudors and remember my mum making me go to bed for a few hours when I cam home from school, so I could watch the series at 9pm. 🙂 I was 10.
Hello Timothy,
You wrote that John Gordon has 43 of the original Anne Boleyn Designs. I would love to see them! Do you know if Mr. Gordon receives visitors?
It was a slip, he has 3 designs, the orange dress at the beginning of Anne’s episode, the dance dress, and the tower dress. I don’t know if he receives visitors, he has a huge huge archive of designs, all in drawers and cupboards. it takes him a while to find things.
Now I understand, I was amazed: 43 Anne Boleyn designs! Thank you for letting me know Timothy. I won’t bother Mr. Gordon!
Hi,
I have been sorting out a relatives collections as a sort of belated house clearing and have come across 8 of these prints and have 4 Henrys, a Catherine of Aragorn, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour and an Anne of Cleves. Some of these look as though there are indentations under the writing particularly John Bloomfield’s signature as if it had been signed. Do other people have this?
Unfortunately they have been poorly framed and are not under glass so there is some damage. I am looking to sell them as a set and if anyone has any advice for me I would be grateful. They are still rather lovely and deserve nice frames and to be properly displayed.
Last summer I was at the School of Historical Dress in London and they have 6 ORIGINAL sketches of the costumes by John Bloomfield, with the material he used attached to them! They have 2 dresses worn by Jane Seymour, 1 by Lady Rochford, 2 by Thomas and Edward Seymour and 1 Henry. Amazing!
Wow! How fantastic would it be to add those to the collection. Thanks so much for sharing!
Did you take any photos?
Yes, I did. I would love to share them but I don’t know if I am allowed to.
the copyright will be with John Bloomfield, and as he did them for the BBC, they will then have owned the copyright. They have have now passed out of their hands, As you were allowed to photograph them that means there shouldn’t be any problem. you could email them, Or I will contact the society myself.
You are probably right Timothy. I would also love to share them on this side. I am very clumsy with computers howver and my computer is old and very slow, so I need some assistance. I will send you the photos this weekend and then maybe you could place them on this side. I have no idea how to do that. Is your email address still the same?
Yes It is and I will.
I have send the pictures to Timothy and he will share them on this site. They are 2 Jane Seymours, 1 Lady Rochford, 1 Henry and Edward and Thomas Seymour. ALL ORIGINAL SKETCHES!!