Identity:
Alfred Holdgate was a fine art printer. He and his wife Emma, aged 35, and children Alfred (aged 11). John (9), Maria (5), Charles (4) and Frank (2) were living at 29 Werrington Street at the time of the 1881 census.
Life:
In 1878 the firm of Alfred Holdgate, fine art and copperplate printers, was operating at 47 London Street, Fitzroy Square. They printed the mezzotint copy by Richard Josey (1840-1906), reproductive engraver [more] of JW's portrait Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 2: Portrait of Thomas Carlyle (YMSM 137).
Although JW referred to him as 'Holgate', it was almost certainly Holdgate who, in 1881 began assisting JW to print his first set of Venice etchings (see #01135).
Bibliography:
UK census 1881, from http://www.familysearch.org (accessed 2004).