his novel Twm Sion Catti). Almost no records of what the women who wore the traditional costumes thought about them have been found. Much of what was written about Welsh costume was influenced by the observer's preconceptions: many of the visitors to Wales at the end of the 18th century came in search of the picturesque and of an Eden or Arcadia and this may have coloured what they recorded. They were often delighted to find that many of the women they saw were healthy, happy and pretty and wore a costume which was distinct from that of English maids. Pictures and photographs There are about 700 images dated 1770–1900 in which Welsh costume is clearly depicted and there are a similar number of early 20th century photographs, mostly postcards, some based on earlier photographs while others were comic. Many of these images of Welsh costume were marketed as souvenirs of Wales and they helped to preserve the concept that there was something unique about Welsh costume. Most of the photographs were 'staged' by the photographers and the women often wore their own old costumes or borrowed a set from the photographer as in the example above 'Two women in national dress drinking tea' which is one of 80 photographs taken by John Thomas (1838–1905) of young women who wore a selection of garments from three sets of costumes that he kept. Surviving costume There are a few surviving Welsh costumes in museums and private collections. Most of them are stored in the St Fagans National History Museum near Cardiff and the Ceredigion Museum in Aberystwyth. They are very difficult to date and the source of the original fabrics is often unknown. Dolls About eighty 19th-century dolls dressed in Welsh costume are known. Many have genuine Welsh costume fabrics which may be the oldest surviving fabrics of their kind. Almost every female member of the Royal family since Princess (later Queen) Victoria's visit in 1832 was given a doll dressed in Welsh costume when she visited Wales. This shows that even at this early date, the Welsh costume was considered something special, and was being marketed along with costume prints. Gallery External links Welsh Costume and the Influence of Lady Llanover by Christine Stevens Article on Welsh costume on the National Museum Wales web site Page from a catalogue of Pryce Jones of Newtown, Powys, showing Welsh cloaks 18th-century fashion