Embedded Files
Other Popular Terminologies
Aside from the above, in which as a group of five houndstooth terms is explicitly solely implied, there are other terms where houndstooth can be seen, in conjunction with other named fabrics, namely ‘Shepherd’s Check/Plaid/Tartan’, ‘Gun Club Check’, ‘Prince of Wales Check’ and ‘Glen Urquhart/Plaid/ Check’. Note that these all predate houndstooth in terms of nomenclature.
7. Specific Instances of the Term ‘Shepherd's Check’ and Variants
A simple listing of all instances of the specific term ‘shepherd’s check’ and variants such as Shepherd’s Plaid/Maud/Tartan. In short, the term Shepherd’s Check has become the de facto reference, albeit beginning as Shepherd’s Plaid. Rather than following a strict chronology of usage, I use the by far more common term, i.e. Shepherd's Check as the title. Note that near relations with gaps, hyphens and apostrophes of the word such as ‘shepherd’s-check’, ‘shepherds’-check’ are included.
As such, I am spoiled here with a veritable bounty of references, indeed so much so that it is overwhelming! Indeed, on the BNA site alone (21 December 2018), for shepherd’s plaid gives 1800-1849 (618), 1850-1899 (4,535) and from 1900-1949 (2,126) entries! As an aside, interestingly from 1950 onwards, the term fell out of favour. Shepherd’s Check has 1800-1849 (3), 1850-1899 (1,000), and 1900-1949 (418). This is all simply too many too list save for the earliest instances. Therefore, below I have been somewhat selective in various ways.
1812
Caledonian Mercury Monday 30 March 1812 Ad and notice p. 3 (*shepherd’s plaid) BNA
1822
The Scots Magazine Monday 1 April 1822 Article pp. 35-42 (*shepherd-plaid) BNA
1823
Bell's Weekly Messenger Sunday 8 June 1823 Article p. 6 (*shepherd’s plaid) BNA
Bell's Weekly Messenger Monday 9 June 1823 Article pp. 4-5 (*shepherd’s plaid) BNA
The Scots Magazine Monday 1 December 1823 Article pp. 73-83 (*shepherd’s plaid) BNA
1824
Waterford Mail (ROI) Saturday 4 September 1824 Article p. 4 (*shepherd's plaid) BNA
Cumberland Pacquet, and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser Tuesday 30 November 1824 Article pp. 3-4 (*shepherd's plaid) BNA
Westmorland Gazette Saturday 18 December 1824 Article p. 4 (*shepherd's plaid) BNA
Pensacola Gazette Saturday, December 11, 1824 p. 1 (*shepherd's plaid) (the first US reference) Ne.
1825
The Scots Magazine Thursday 1 September 1825 Article pp. 32-37 (*shepherd's plaid) BNA
1827
Perthshire Courier Thursday 12 July 1827 Article p. 2 (*shepherd's plaid) BNA
Caledonian Mercury Thursday 12 July 1827 Article p. 4 (*shepherd's plaid) BNA
1828
Inverness Courier Wednesday 5 March 1828 Article p. 4 (*shepherd's plaid) BNA
Edinburgh Evening Courant Saturday 2 August 1828 Article p. 1 (*shepherd's plaid) BNA
The Scotsman Saturday 2 August 1828 Article p. 4 (*shepherds’ plaid) BNA
Edinburgh Evening Courant Saturday 9 August 1828 Article p. 1 (*shepherd's plaid) BNA
1829
Caledonian Mercury Saturday 10 January 1829 Article p. 3 (*shepherd's plaid) BNA
Edinburgh Evening Courant Thursday 15 January 1829 Article p. 1 (*shepherds’ plaid) BNA
Belfast News-Letter Friday 16 January 1829 Article p. 4 (*shepherd's plaid) BNA
The Scotsman Saturday 17 January 1829 Article p. 4 (*shepherds’ plaid) BNA
Inverness Courier Wednesday 25 November 1829 Article p. 1 (*shepherd plaid) BNA
Inverness Courier Wednesday 2 December 1829 Article p. 3 (*shepherd plaid) BNA
Inverness Courier Wednesday 30 December 1829 (*shepherd plaid) BNA
1830
Inverness Courier Wednesday 28 April 1830 Article p. 3 (*shepherd plaid) BNA
N.B. From 1831-1839 in the BNA there are 356 references for shepherd's plaid (and variants), of which for obvious reasons I here stop listing save for outline form by year!
1831
Shepherd’s Plaid (57) BNA
Brighton Gazette Thursday 4 August 1831 article p. 4 (*shepherd’s tartan) BNA (first reference to ‘shepherd’s tartan’)
South Eastern Gazette Tuesday 16 August 1831 Article p. 3 (*shepherd’s tartan) BNA
The Tasmanian (Hobart Town, Tas.) Saturday 10 Sep 1831 p. 5 Article (*shepherd’s plaid) (the first Australian reference to shepherd’s plaid) Tr.
The Hobart Town Courier (Tas.) Saturday 17 September 1831 p. 2 Article (*shepherd’s plaid) Tr.
The National Gazette Monday, April 18, 1831 (*shepherd’s plaid) Ne.
1832
Shepherd’s Plaid (16) BNA
1833
Shepherd’s Plaid (5) BNA
1834
Shepherd’s Plaid (9) BNA
Inverness Courier Wednesday 29 October 1834 Article (*shepherd tartans) pp. 2-3 BNA
Inverness Courier Wednesday 5 November 1834 Article p. 3 (*shepherd tartans) BNA
Inverness Courier Wednesday 12 November 1834 Article p. 3 (*shepherd tartans) BNA
1835
Shepherd’s Plaid (57) BNA
Inverness Courier Wednesday 29 April 1835 Article p. 3 (*shepherd tartans) BNA
1836
Shepherd’s Plaid (35) BNA
John o' Groat Journal Monday 2 May 1836 article pp. 1-2 (*shepherd tartan) BNA
1837
Shepherd’s Plaid (15) BNA
Northern Whig (Northern Ireland) Saturday 23 September 1837 p. 3 Article (*shepherds’ check) (the first UK reference to shepherds’ check as a term) BNA
Northern Whig (Northern Ireland) Saturday 30 September 1837 p. 3 Article BNA
Northern Whig (Northern Ireland) Saturday 7 October 1837 p. 3 Article BNA
1838
Shepherd’s Plaid (59) BNA
John Bull Sunday 18 November 1838 Article pp. 1-2 (*shepherd’s mauds) (the first ‘shepherd’s mauds’ reference) BNA
The Sydney Herald (NSW) Monday 26 November 1838 p. 3 Advert (*Shepherd Check) (the first Australian reference) Tr.
1839
Shepherd’s Plaid (122) BNA
John Bull Sunday 20 January 1839 Article p. 1 (*shepherd’s maude) BNA
Cumberland Pacquet, and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser Tuesday 7 May 1839 article, p. 3 (first reference to border tartan in UK) BNA (border tartan)
Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA) Wednesday 28 August 1839 p. 2 Advert (*Shepherd’s Check) Tr.
South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA) Saturday 31 August 1839 p. 3 Advert (*Shepherd Check) Tr.
Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA) Wednesday 4 September 1839 p. 1 Advert (*Shepherd Check) Tr.
South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA) Saturday 7 September 1839 p. 1 Advert (*Shepherd Check) Tr.
Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA) Wednesday 11 September 1839 p. 1 Advert (*Shepherd Check) Tr.
1841
Aberdeen Journal, and General Advertiser for the North of Scotland Wednesday, February 17, 1841 p. 22 (*Shepherd Check) Ne. (the first reference in newspapers.com)
The Sydney Herald (NSW) Friday 9 April 1841 p. 3 Advert (*Shepherd Check) Tr.
The Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser (NSW) Friday 9 April 1841 p. 3 Advert (*Shepherd Check)Tr.
Australasian Chronicle (Sydney, NSW) Saturday 10 April 1841 p. 3 Advert Tr.
Free Press and Commercial Journal (Sydney) Saturday 10 April 1841 p. 3 Advert Tr.
The Sydney Herald (NSW) Saturday 10 April 1841 p. 4 Advert Tr.
The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW) Saturday 10 April 1841 p. 3 Advert Tr.
The Sydney Herald (NSW) Monday 12 April 1841 p. 4 Advert Tr.
The Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser (NSW) Monday 12 April 1841 p. 1 Advert Tr.
The Sydney Herald (NSW) Tuesday 13 April 1841 p. 3 Advert Tr.
Australasian Chronicle (Sydney, NSW) Tuesday 13 April 1841 p. 4 Advert Tr.
The Sydney Herald (NSW) Friday 16 April 1841 p. 3 Advert Tr.
The Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser (NSW) Friday 16 April 1841 p. 3 Advert Tr.
Australasian Chronicle (Sydney) Saturday 17 April 1841 p. 3 Advert Tr.
The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW) Saturday 17 April 1841 p. 3 Advert Tr.
Free Press and Commercial Journal (Sydney, NSW) Saturday 17 April 1841 p. 3 Advert Tr.
The Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser (NSW) Monday 19 April 1841 p. 4 Advert Tr.
The Sydney Herald (NSW) Monday 19 April 1841 p. 3 Advert Tr.
1842
Boston Post Friday, September 2, 1842 (Shepherds Plaid) (the first US reference) NA
1846
The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW) Monday 23 November 1846 p. 1 Advert Tr.
New Zealander, 1 August 1846 p. 1 (*Shepherds Plaid) (the first New Zealand reference to Shepherd’s Plaid) Advert PP
New Zealander, 8 August 1846 p. 4 (*Shepherds Plaid) Advert PP
1847
Wellington Independent 18 September 1847 p. 2 (*Shepherds’ Plaid) Advert PP
1848
Caledonian Mercury Thursday 28 September 1848 Article p. 3 BNA (the first reference to border tartan in Scotland)
Globe Friday 29 September 1848 (border tartan) Article p. 3 BNA
New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian 31 May 1848 p. 1 (*Shepherds’ Plaid) PP
NUMEROUS ENTRIES OF SHEPHERD’S PLAID FOR 1848 FOR NEW ZEALAND, TOO MANY TO LIST
1849
New Market Richmond Enquirer Tuesday, December 25, 1849 (*Shepherd Plaid) NA
1850
Richmond Enquirer March 19, 1850 (*Shepherd and Belgic checks)
New-York Tribune (New York, New York) 28 Oct 1850, Mon (*Shepherd’s Maud) Ne.
1851
Richmond Enquirer Tuesday, November 18, 1851 (*Shepherd Check Coats) NA
1852
Falkirk Herald Thursday 29 April 1852 p. 1 Advert BNA
Falkirk Herald Thursday 6 May 1852 p. 1 Advert BNA
Falkirk Herald Thursday 13 May 1852 p. 1 Advert BNA
1853
Wheeling Daily Intelligencer* February 19, 1853 (the second US reference) (*Shepherd’s check)
Wheeling Daily Intelligencer February 21, 1853
Falkirk Herald Thursday 17 November 1853 p. 1 Article BNA
1854
Alton Weekly Courier Thursday, April 27, 1854 (*Shepherd Check) NA
1856
Saunders's News-Letter ROI Tuesday 13 May 1856 Article p. 4 BNA
Liverpool Mercury Friday 21 November 1856 Advert p. 1 BNA
1857
The Evansville Daily Journal* March 4, 1857 CA (*Shepherd Checks)
Bedford Inquirer and Chronicle April 17, 1857 CA (*Shepherd Checks)
Aris's Birmingham Gazette Monday 29 June 1857 Advert p. 4 BNA
Aris's Birmingham Gazette Monday 24 August 1857 Advert p. 4 BNA
The Guardian 5 December 1897 (the first reference in The Guardian) (*shepherd checks) Ne.
1859
Poole & Dorset Herald Thursday 24 March 1859 Article p. 1 BNA
The Observer June 19 1859 (*shepherd’s check silks) the first reference in The Observer) Ne.
1862
Nieuw Amsterdamsch handels- en effectenblad 17 June 1862 (Shepherd’s Plaid) (the first reference to Shepherd’s Plaid in the Netherlands) De.
1898
Oelwein Register Wednesday, March 2, 1898 (*Shepherds Plaid) (the first reference to Shepherd’s Plaid in the US) NA
Selected, beyond the date range above
Manawatu Times 19 April 1919, p. 5 (the first New Zealand reference to Shepherd’s Check) PP
Le Temps 31 March 1933 (the first (and only!) French reference)
Freeport Journal Standard Thursday, April 11, 1935 (the first US reference) NA
Daily Express Wednesday 25 Mar 1953, Page 3 (shepherd check) (the first reference in the Daily Express) UKPO
Daily Express Monday 10 October 1910, p. 2 (shepherds plaid) (the first reference in the Daily Express) UKPO
Daily Express Wednesday 25 Mar 1953, p.3 (shepherds check) (the first reference in the Daily Express) UKPO
Australia
France
New Zealand
UK
USA
Netherlands
Shepherd’s Plaid
1831
Not Known
1846
1812
1898/
1862
Shepherd’s Check
1838
Not Known
1919
1837
1850
Not Known
Shepherd’s Maud
1848
Not Known
1880
1838
Not Known*
Not Known
Shepherd’s Tartan
1835
Not Known
1848
1831
1840
1909
Observations
For once, I am now on firmer ground, with the generally given title of Shepherd’s Check attributed to Scotland indeed correlating to print references. As a simple statement, 1812 is the year Shepherd’s Check (as Shepherd’s Plaid) first came into existence. Indeed, for many a year, this was the sole term used, before it was then given additional titles of Shepherd's Tartan, 1831; Shepherd’s Check, 1837 and Shepherd’s Maud, 1839. Subsequently, by far the most favoured title is Shepherd's Check. In relative terms, it took quite a while to become known outside of the UK, with the first foreign instance being Australia, 1838. The first US reference is 1850.
7. Specific Instances of the Term ‘Gun Club Check’ and Variants
A simple listing of all instances of the specific term ‘gun club check’ and variants. Note that near relations with gaps and apostrophes of the word such as ‘Gunclub Check’, ‘Gun-Club Check’. For the sake of thoroughness, ‘Gun Club Plaids’ are also included. However, variations with plaids in the term are rare in the extreme (with one instance in the UK. Checks are by far the more common expression.
1884
Western Daily Press Wednesday 17 December 1884 p. 3 (*Gun Club check) (the first UK reference) (N.B. The same article appears in the following four 1884 papers) BNA
Herts & Cambs Reporter & Royston Crow Friday 19 December 1884 p. 6 article (*Gun Club check) BNA
Tavistock Gazette Friday 19 December 1884 p. 6 article BNA (*Gun Club check)
Buckingham Advertiser and Free Press Saturday 20 December 1884 p. 2 article (*Gun Club check) BNA
Kentish Independent Saturday 20 December 1884 p. 6 (*Gun Club check) article BNA
1885
Western Daily Press Tuesday 18 August 1885 p. 12 (*Gun Club checks) article BNA
1892
Liverpool Mercury Saturday, April 2, 1892 p. 1 (first newspapers.com reference) Ne.
Liverpool Mercury Saturday, April 6, 1892 p. 1 Ne.
Liverpool Mercury Saturday, April 7, 1892 p. 1 (*Gun Club Checks) BNA
The Guardian 14 May 1892 p. 1 (the first reference in The Guardian) Ne.
Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser Monday 16 May 1892 p. 1 (*Gun Club Checks) BNA
1894
Coventry Herald Friday 12 January 1894 p. 4 BNA
Coventry Herald Friday 19 January 1894 p. 4 BNA
1897
Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) November 27, 1897, p. 19, CA (the first US reference)
1898
Omaha Daily Bee January 4, 1898, Page 3, CA
Boston Sunday Globe Sunday, January 30, 1898, Boston, Massachusetts NA
Salt Lake Tribune Sunday, March 27, 1898 (*Gun club checks) NA
Marshall Daily Chronicle Wednesday, September 14, 1898, Marshall, Michigan NA
Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail Friday 29 March 1901 p. 2 BNA
The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate (NSW) Saturday 14 September 1901 p. 5 Advert (First Australian reference) Tr.
Selected, beyond the date range above
Winnipeg Free Press Wednesday, April 4, 1900 (*gunclub checks) (the first reference in Canada) NA
Washington Post Sunday, April 10, 1910 (*gun club plaids) (the first reference to plaids in US) NA
The Observer 27 February 1916 p. 1 (*gun-club checks) (the first reference in The Observer)
Auckland Star 2 February 1918 p. 11 Advert (gun club check) (the first reference to gun club check in New Zealand) PP
Daily Express Friday 2 March 1923, p. 10 (gun club checks) (the first reference in the Daily Express) UKPO
Portsmouth Evening News Tuesday 28 March 1933 (gun club plaids) (the first, and only, reference to plaid in the UK) BNA
Daily Express Wednesday 26 April 1933, p. 8 (gunclub checks) UKPO
Daily Express Saturday 17 May 1969, p. 5 (gun club check) UKPO
By Decades:
UK - 1880-1889 (5), 1890-1899 (2), 1900-1909 (33), 1910-1919 (2), 1920-1929 (28), 1930-1939 (31), 1940-1949 (5) BNA
Australia - 1880-1889 (0), 1890-1899 (0),1900-1909 (23), 1910-1919 (86), 1920-1929 (13), 1930-1939 (96), 1940-1949 (19) Tr
US - 1880-1889 (0), 1890-1899 (10),1900-1909 (4), 1910-1919 (37), 1920-1929 (2), 1930-1939 (64), 1940-1949 (55) NA
France - Not known
Table
Australia
France
New Zealand
UK
USA
Netherlands
Gun Club Check
1901
Not Known
1918
1894
1897
Not Known
Observations
Again, all quite surprising! It is stated that gun club check has a US beginning, with:
… gun club check came by its name naturally after actually being adopted by the American Gun Club in 1874.
In short, the Gun Club embraced it. However, the first reference, is not that of the US, but rather that of UK of 1884, and precedes that of the US of 1897! The first Australian reference is 1901.
8. Specific Instances of the Term ‘Prince of Wales Check’ and Variants
A simple listing of all instances of the specific term ‘Prince of Wales Check’ and minor variants such as ‘Prince of Wales Checks’, Prince of Wales Checked’ (last rare), and presumably the same references ‘Prince of Wales Tweed’, ‘Prince of Wales Plaid’.
1842
Norwich Mercury Saturday 26 March 1842 p. 2 (*Prince of Wales checks) (the first UK reference) BNA
Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 23 April 1842 p. 1 (*Prince of Wales checks) BNA
Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 22 October 1842 p. 1 (*Prince of Wales plaids) BNA
Stamford Mercury Friday 25 November 1842 p. 2 (*Prince of Wales, plaids, checks) BNA
1864
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) Monday 11 January 1864 p. 2 Advert (first Australian reference) Tr.
The Age (Melbourne, Vic.) Tuesday 12 January 1864 p. 2 Advert Tr.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) Thursday 4 February 1864 p. 2 Advert Tr.
1866
Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld.) Tuesday 13 March 1866 p. 1 Advert Tr.
1867
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) Tuesday 3 September 1867 p 2 Advertising (*Prince of Wales plaid vestas). The first of many Australian entries with ‘PoW vestas’. Faux? Seemingly referring to matches. Tr.
1882
Herts & Cambs Reporter & Royston Crow Friday 13 January 1882 (*Prince of Wales, plaids, checks) BNA
The Herald (Melbourne, Vic.) Saturday 11 February 1882 p. 2 Article (*the Prince of Wales's new plaid) Tr.
1883
Glasgow Evening Post Friday 27 July 1883 p. 1 Article (*Prince of Wales checks) BNA
Glasgow Evening Post Thursday 18 October 1883 p. 1 Article (Prince of Wales checks) BNA
1884
Philadelphia Times Friday, March 28, 1884 (the first US PoW plaid reference) (*Prince of Wales plaids) NA
1887
Kansas City Star Monday, October 17, 1887 (*Prince of Wales plaid) NA
Massillon Independent Friday, November 18, 1887 (*Prince of Wales plaid) NA
High Point Enterprise Friday, December 9, 1887 (*Prince of Wales plaid) NA
1891
Oamaru Mail 30 June 1891 p. 2 Advert (the first New Zealand reference) PP
(The Oamaru Mail then ran the same advert for 1-4, 6-11, 13-14 July 1891 before then ceasing)
1892
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sunday, March 6, 1892 p. 11 (the first newspapers.com reference) Ne.
The Weekly Times-Democrat Friday, March 11, 1892 p. 7 Ne.
1897
Sioux City Journal Friday, October 8, 1897 p. 5 (the first US reference) Ne.
1904
Traverse City Evening Record Monday, August 8, 1904 (*Prince of Wales plaids) NA
Hamilton Evening Democrat Friday, September 30, 1904 (*Prince of Wales check) NA (the first NA PoW check reference)
1906
Baltimore Sun Saturday, May 5, 1906 (*Prince of Wales Checks) NA
Fitchburg Sentinel Monday, May 28, 1906 Advert (*Prince of Wales Checks) NA
Note that the same advert appears in the Sentinel on: 1, 4, 5 June 1906 and April 8 1907
1920
The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW) Monday 28 June 1920 p. 3 Advert Tr.
1921
Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld.) Friday 29 July 1921 p. 4 Advert Tr.
Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld.) Friday 12 August 1921 p. 4 Advert Tr.
New Zealand Herald 25 June 1921 p. 14 Advert PP
1922
Diss Express Friday 21 April 1922 p. 5 Article BNA
Kingston Daily Freeman Monday, September 11, 1922 NA
Boston Evening Globe Saturday, December 16, 1922 (*Prince of Wales Checks) NA
1923
Waukesha Daily Freeman Friday, March 30, 1923 NA
Daily Express Saturday 3 Feb 1923, p. 12 UKPO
1924
Belfast Telegraph (NI) Thursday 29 May 1924 p. 3 Article BNA
Muscatine Journal and News Tribune Thursday, December 4, 1924 NA
Liverpool Echo Tuesday 9 December 1924 p. 1 Article BNA
1926
Muscatine Journal and News Tribune Wednesday, July 28, 1926, NA
Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW) Sunday 17 October 1926 p 15 Article Tr.
The Newcastle Sun (NSW) Wednesday 24 November 1926 p 3 Article Tr.
Belmont News Thursday, February 25, 1926 (*Prince of Wales Checks) NA (first Canada reference)
1927
Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW) Friday 8 July 1927 p 8 Advert Tr.
The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.) Thursday 22 September 1927 p 3 Article Tr.
1932
Portsmouth Evening News Friday 11 March 1932 p. 11 BNA
Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette Friday 12 February 1932 Article p. 12 BNA
Salt Lake City Telegram Monday, October 10, 1932 (*Prince of Wales plaid) N.B. ‘PoW plaid’ became popular term in the US from this date (first used 1887), too many to list. NA
1933
Kalgoorlie Miner (WA) Saturday 1 July 1933 p 7 Advert Tr.
Selected, beyond the date range above
Winnipeg Free Press Monday, September 4, 1944 (*Prince of Wales check) (first reference in Canada) NA
The Observer 14 September 1947 p. 7 (first reference in The Observer) Ne.
The Guardian 13 August 1954 p. 3 (first reference in The Guardian) Ne.
UK - 1920-1929 (2), 1930-1939 (48), 1940-1949 (17) BNA
Table
Australia
France
New Zealand
UK
USA
Netherlands
Prince of Wales Check
1864
Not Known
1891
1842
1892
Not Known
Observations
For once a consistent, logical beginning, with a presumed UK source of 1842, although it was for many a year not widely use. Australia is the second reference, of 1864, then New Zealand 1891, and US, in 1892. It is not known in France.
9. Specific Instances of the Term ‘Glenurquhart Check’ and Variants
A simple listing of all instances of the specific term ‘glenurquhart check’ and variants of the word such as ‘glen urquhart check’ and ‘glenurquhart plaid’, ‘glenurquhart plaid. And simply ‘glenurquharts’, without any further description to the term. And hyphens too, with glen-urquhart with all the check/plaid/tartan variants.
1869
Huddersfield Chronicle Thursday 1 April 1869 p. 2 (*glen urquhart plaids) BNA
Wrexham Advertiser Saturday 3 April 1869 (*including the glen urquhart check the novelty of the season for gentlemen’s trousers) (the first English reference). BNA
N.B. Note that the same advert appeared in WA on 10, 17, 24 May; April and 1, 8, 15, 22 May 1869.
London Echo Monday, April 5, 1869 (*glen-urquhart check trousers) NA
London Echo Monday, April 7, 1869 NA
London Echo Monday, April 12, 1869 NA
London Echo Monday, April 14, 1869 NA
London Echo Monday, April 16, 1869 NA
Newcastle Journal Thursday 29 April 1869 p. 2 (*glen urquhart plaids) BNA
Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser Saturday 1 May 1869 p. 12 (*glen urquhart plaids) BNA
Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser Friday 6 August 1869 Advert p. 1 (*glenurquhart checks) BNA
N.B. Note that the same advert appeared in MCLGA on 11, 13-14, 16, 18, 21 August 1869.
Cheltenham Looker-On Saturday 1 May 1869 p. 2 (**glen urquhart checks) BNA
N.B. Note that the same advert appeared in CLO on 8, 22 May 1869.
London Evening Standard Saturday 8 May 1869 p. 1, 4, 7-8 (*glen urquhart check trousers) BNA
N.B. Note that the same advert appeared in LES on 20, 22 May 1869.
London City Press Saturday 29 May 1869 p. 7 (*glen urquhart check trousers) BNA
Glasgow Evening Citizen Monday 26 July 1869 p. 7 (*glen urquhart checks) (the first Scottish reference). BNA
1870
North London News Saturday 8 January 1870 pp. 3-4 (*glenurquhart check trousers) BNA
1875
Belfast News-Letter (NI) Friday 3 September 1875 Advert p. 1 (* the glenurquhart check) BNA
N.B. Note that the same advert appeared in BNL on 4 September 1875.
1885
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) Friday 16 October 1885 p 7 (*glen urquhart check) (the first Australian reference to glen urquhart check)
1886
Woodstock Shenandoah Herald Saturday, October 30, 1886 (the first US reference) NA
1888
Seymour Baylor County Banner Thursday, March 1, 1888 NA
1889
Dublin Daily Express (ROI) Tuesday 14 May 1889 Article p. 4 (*glenurquhart check) BNA
1891
Freeman's Journal (ROI) Thursday 27 August 1891 Advert p. 4 (*glenurquhart checks) BNA (+first newspapers.com reference)
1892
Dundee Evening Telegraph Wednesday 11 May 1892 Advert p. 4 (*glenurquhart check tweeds) (the first Scottish reference to glenurquhart check) BNA
Dundee Courier Thursday 12 May 1892 p. 4 (*glenurquhart check tweeds) BNA
N.B. Note that the same advert appeared in DC on 13-14, 16 May 1892.
1894
The Sun New York, Sunday, September 23, 1894 p. 12 (*glenurquhart plaid) (the first US reference to *glenurquhart) Ne.
1898
Richmond Dispatch Sunday, March 6, 1898, (*glen plaids) NA.
1900
Paisley & Renfrewshire Gazette Saturday 25 August 1900 p. 5 (*Glenurquhart check is quite the newest thing) BNA
1901
Clutha Leader 2 July 1901 (*glenurquhart check) (the first New Zealand reference to glenurquhart check) PP
Timaru Herald 2 July 1901 (*glen urquhart check) (the first New Zealand reference to glen urquhart check) PP
South Canterbury Times 2 July 1901 (*glen urquhart check) PP
Otago Witness 3 July 1901 (*glenurquhart check) PP
Otago Witness 13 June 1906 p. 15 Advert (*glenurquhart check) PP
Otago Witness 20 June 1906 p. 15 Advert (*glenurquhart check) PP
1906
New York Times Thursday, June 7, 1906 (*glen check) NA
1907
Otago Witness 22 May 1907 (*glen urquhart checks) PP
1911
Rock Island Argus March 2, 1911, p. 10 (*glenurquhart plaid) CA
1913
Nottingham Evening Post Friday 31 October 1913 p. 7 (*The famous Glenurquhart check suitings) BNA
1914
Winnipeg Free Press Saturday, March 28, 1914 (first Canada reference) NA
Atlanta Constitution Wednesday, December 2, 1914 (*Glen Tartans) (first US reference to tartan) NA
Grand Rapids Tribune Wednesday, December 9, 1914 (*Glen Tartans)NA
1915
The Evening World March 16, 1915, CA
Flora Hoosier Democrat Saturday, August 21, 1915 (Glen Urquhart Check) NA
Lawrence Journal World Thursday, March 25, 1915 (*Glen Tartan) NA
1918
The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld.) Monday 24 June 1918 p. 1 Advert (*glen urquhart check) Tr.
1919
The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.) Monday 28 April 1919 p. 7 Advert (*glen urquhart check) Tr.
1920
Huon Times (Franklin, Tas.) Tuesday 22 June 1920 p. 3 Advert Tr.
New Zealand Times 6 February 1920 p. 5 Advert (*glenurquhart check) PP
Selected, beyond the date range above
1922
Becomes popular in Australia, with so many references too numerous to record
1925
Le Gaulois littéraire et politique 19 October 1925 p. 5 (the first French reference)
1933
Dunkirk Evening Observer Saturday, March 11, 1933 NA
Daily Express Wednesday 24 May 1933, p. 12 (glenurquhart check) (the first reference in the Daily Express) UKPO
1934
Daily Express Monday 15 Oct 1934, p. 5 (glen urquhart check) UKPO
1935
Berkeley Daily Gazette Monday, December 23, 1935 Column on Scottish Checks (*glenurquhart check) (Gives an interesting backstory which contradicts the given story?) NA
1938
The Observer 2 January 1938 p. 8 (the first reference in The Observer)
1951
The Guardian 13 April 1951 p.1 (the first reference in The Guardian)
1985
The New York Times Sept. 8, 1985 (the first reference in NYT) VERIFY NYT
Table
Australia
France
New Zealand
UK
USA
Netherlands
Glenurquhart Check
1885
1925
1901
1869
1911
Not Known
Observations
For once a broadly consistent beginning given an assumed UK/Scotland source, with the first reference of the UK, in 1869, albeit in a English newspaper. Perhaps surprisingly the first recorded Scottish reference is of 1892. Australia is the next reference, of 1885, and New Zealand, of 1901, then the US, of 1911.
Part 3 Table
For an at-a-glance view of the data, below I show a table of Part 3 of the first instance in print of each of the terms, of the six main countries, namely Australia, France, New Zealand, Netherlands (to a much lesser extent), UK and USA at the beginnings of Shepherds Plaid/Check/Maud/Tartan, Gun Club Check, Prince of Wales Check, Glenurquhart Check and Pepita Check. This is then followed by a discussion of the findings.
Australia
France
New Zealand
UK
USA
Netherlands
Shepherd’s Plaid
1831
Not Known
1846
1812
1898/
1862
Shepherd’s Check
1838
Not Known
1919
1837
1850
Not Known
Shepherd’s Maud
1848
Not Known
1880
1838
Not Known*
Not Known
Shepherd’s Tartan
1835
Not Known
1848
1831
1840
1909
Gun Club Check
1901
Not Known
1918
1894
1897
Not Known
Prince of Wales Check
1864
Not Known
1891
1842
1892
Not Known
Glenurquhart Check
1885
1925
1901
1869
1911
Not Known
Created 26 June 2024 (from existing text, suitably revised for 2024). Last Updated 26 June 2024
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