Retail lace house : 392, Strand, opposite Cecil Street

printed text

A letter addressed to ‘Madam’ describing the copy and the quality of its work with attestations from the Royal family.

  • Author: Geo. Fred. Urling, & Co.
  • Title: Retail lace house : 392, Strand, opposite Cecil Street, from 143, Cheapside.
  • Publication: [London?] : [Geo. Fred. Urling, & Co.], [1819?]

Catalog Record

File 66 819 Ur77

Acquired September 2021

A representation of the present state of France

description below

“Napoleon, pushing an officer before him through a pillared doorway, looks back to speak to a monk and a sansculotte, shackled together, who drag a car in which is an imperial crown. They hold a large scroll inscribed: ‘Most religious Sovereign – the benefactor of the church – the patron of liberty – the scourge of tyrants, and the defender of our most holy religion; may you long fill the Imperial Chair, and diffuse over a free and happy people all the blessings of your auspicious government.’ Demons fly round a tricolour flag which floats from the car. Napoleon holds out a scroll headed: ‘Address, &c. &c. &c. The Legions of France congratu – ‘, saying, “This token of your gratitude, my dear subjects will ever stimulate me to protect your liberties – to promote your happiness – and to preserve my empire from the ravages of war, tyranny and oppression.” The officer, with a cynical smile, says: “Patron of Liberty – Defender of our most holy Religion – free and happy People – Ha! ha! ha! – What may we not expect? – Has he not got them under excellent subjection?” On the left is Napoleon’s ‘Secret Chamber’: a table is covered with maps and plans; a large map, partly unrolled, shows Europe from ‘[En]gland to [Tur]key’, including the ‘Black Sea’; another map shows ‘Suez’ and the ‘Red Sea’. A demon under the table holds up a large pile of papers: ‘Plans against England’; on the floor are similar piles: ‘Religion’ and ‘Treaties’. There are also ‘Plans against Germany and Turkey’, and a paper: ‘Mem. the chance of the conquest of England is worth the sacrifice of one third of the people of France. Item. As Charlemaine not only conquered Italy, but the whole of Germany, and left the Imperial dignity hereditary in the Sovereigns of France, it is indispensably necessary to obtain possession of Germany, in order to support the dignity of the Gallic empire.’ On the wall are three pictures: ‘Sacking of Rome’, ‘Dissolution of the National Assembly’ [see British Museum Satires No. 9426, &c], and ‘View of Cairo’ [see British Museum Satires No. 9358, &c.]. Below the design: ‘Explanation. The two figures bringing the Imperial crown . . . represent . . . the bitter Enemies of Aristocracy, and the staunch Supporters of the late Monarchial Government, tackled to the National Machine, and reduced to the most abject State of Slavery by the Influence of the Military, whose congratulatory Address Bonaparte has received at the Hand of an Officer, and is introducing him into his Secret Chamber to receive Instructions. The Demons hovering over the Imperial Crown denote Five Years of Destruction; during which Period Bonaparte will overrun and ravage the greater Part of the Continent of Europe, be the Means of nearly depopulating Turkey, and finally be slain with the Sword, be cast out as an abominable Branch, and be left as Dung to rot on the Face of the Earth.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Title: A representation of the present state of France [graphic].
  • Publication:[London] : Published by L. Mayer, as the act directs, August 13, 1804.
  • Manufacture: [London] : Bryer, printer, Bridge Street, Blackfriars

Catalog Record

804.08.13.01+

Acquired May 2021

 

The Norfolk method of improving the breed

description below

“Thomas Coke of Norfolk leads his bride through a pastoral landscape; he prances gaily along hat in hand, turning to look at her, and singing, Oh the Days when I was Young; in his left hand is a book: Coke upon Littleton [see British Museum Satires No. 14423]. She takes his left arm, holding back the gauze veil that floats from a bonnet trimmed with flowers and towering feathers. Her tight-waisted pelisse has a deep crimson border. She is gravely demure, but sings: Of all the Gay Lads that Dance on the Green, Old Tommys the Lad for Me. He looks younger than 67, she older than 18. Behind them (right) is a country church, before them a signpost pointing To the Breeding Park and To the Nursery. An old ram branded C approaches a sheep; a French greyhound prances towards a decrepit and shaggy dog.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  • Title: The Norfolk method of improving the breed [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. March 26th, 1822, by S.W. Fores, 41 Picadilly [sic], [26 March 1822]

Catalog Record

822.03.26.01+

Acquired May 2021

Contrasted opinions respecting the new emperor

description below

“Two tiers of single English figures expressing appropriate opinions about the coronation of Napoleon.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Williams, Charles, active 1797-1830, printmaker.
  • Title: Contrasted opinions respecting the new emperor [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. July 16th, 1804, by S.W. Fores, No. 50 Piccadilly, [16 July 1804]

Catalog Record

804.07.16.03+

Acquired November 2020

Five, in the afternoon

description below

“A young dandy lounging on a sofa with a young woman, holding up a glass, while she lays one hand on his knee, holding a glass herself, her elbow on a round table beside a bottle of Madeira and a dish of peaches; a bed seen through the open door in the background to right.”–British Museum online catalogue.

 

  • Title: Five, in the afternoon [graphic] / Dighton delt.
  • Publication: London : Published 18 June 1795 by Haines & Son, No. 19 Rolls Buildings, Fetter Lane, [18 June 1795]

Catalog Record

795.06.18.01+

Acquired January 2021

Two heads better than one

Two heads better than one

“A pretty and elegant young woman kneels on a bed supporting her elbows on the pillow. A woman stands beside her raising the girl’s skirt in order to birch her, but finds her posterior covered by a life-sized mask which is a close portrait of herself. She says: “Oh ma foi! dot is mine own Head in t’oder place.””–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Williams, Charles, active 1797-1830, printmaker.
  • Title: Two heads better than one, or, The governess outwitted [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. Jany. 1817 by S.W. Fores, 50 Piccadilly, [January 1817]

Catalog Record

817.01.00.03+

Acquired April 2019

The Princes disastar

The Princes disastar. Detailed description below

“The Prince of Wales falls from an overturning phaeton or curricle. He is about to fall on the prostrate body of Mrs. Fitzherbert (left), who lies on her back, her breasts exposed, in an attitude intended to be indecorous. She lies under a steep bank or rock beside a country road. The horse rears behind the Prince.”–British Museum online catalogue.

 

  • Title: The Princes disastar [sic], or, A fall in Fitz [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Published by James Aitken, Little Russell Court, Drury Lane, [July 1788]

Catalog Record 

788.07.00.08+

Acquired April 2019

The matter reversed

The Duchess of Devonshire sits astride a galloping fox

“The Duchess of Devonshire sits astride a galloping fox, her face to its tail. A signpost by the fox’s head points (left) ‘To Cuckolds Hall’; on the top of the post is a pair of horns. The Duchess wears a hat trimmed with ostrich feathers and with a ribbon inscribed ‘Fox'”– British Museum online catalogue.

  • Title: The matter reversed, or, One good turn deserves another [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. May 24, 1787, by J. Notice, Oxford Road, [24 May 1787]

Catalog Record 

787.05.24.02+

Acquired October 2018

The man wots got the whip hand of ’em all

The man wots got the whip hand of 'em all. Detailed description below

“A hand printing-press of metal (a Stanhope Press), supported on the stout legs of a man in breeches which seem to belong to a John Bull, puts to flight mere pigmy humans: two flee to the right, one propelled by a kick from a huge buckled shoe; two others have fallen. Two levers or handles serve as arms; one has a hand which grasps a giant pen, the feather entwined with three serpents which spit flame at the departing legs and cocked hat of Wellington, who, kicked into the air, disappears behind the upper right margin of the design. Another pair of legs, with the black stockings and buckled shoes of Eldon, project from the upper left margin; beside them a single leg and a broom indicate the departing Brougham. A second lever supports a print, ‘The Man Wot Drives The Sovereign’, copied from British Museum satires no. 15731; a flame issues from the press, threatening to scorch or destroy the print. The press is topped by a cap of Liberty inscribed ‘Free Press’ and encircled with a wreath. A little demon (a printer’s devil) rushes towards the press from the left, holding up a big ink-ball.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  • Title: The man wots got the whip hand of ’em all [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. May 30th, 1829, by T. McLean, 26 Haymarket …, [30 May 1829]

Catalog Record 

829.05.30.01+

Acquired October 2018

Preliminaries of peace, or, Politicians puzzled

Preliminaries of peace, or, Politicians puzzled

“Members of the Opposition in a row, talk in couples, except for the arch-egotist Erskine (see British Museum satires no. 9246) on the extreme left, who exclaims: “Peace – and I not consulted ’tis very strange, by Gad”. Sheridan (left), seated in profile to the right, reads the ‘Gazzette Extraordina[ry] Peace! Peace!’ with an expression of dismay. He says: “It is here, sure enough, I can scarcely believe my eyes, then all my fine speeches respecting the continuance of the War is dish’d, its no farce.” Burdett stands with legs astride looking down at him; he says: “O it can’t be true depend upon it.” The centre pair, Fox and Bedford, face each other in profile. Fox says: “This is a curious kind of business. I heard of it at the Crown and Anchor.” Bedford, in top-boots, and a riding whip under his arm, answers: “I heard of it in Bedfordshire.” On the right little Lord Derby turns to Tierney, asking, “Pray who is this Peace Maker – this Mr A- Ad, Ad, what’s his name, I never can think of it dam my Wig” [he is almost bald, with a tiny pigtail]. Tierney, looking down morosely, his arms folded, answers: “I really cannot immediately recollect, but I know he is not one of us – however we can find it in the Red Book”.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Roberts, Piercy, active 1791-1805, printmaker.
  • TitlePreliminaries of peace, or, Politicians puzzled [graphic] / Woodward delin. ; etchd. by Roberts.
  • PublicationLondon : Pubd. by P. Roberts, 28 Middle Row, Holborn, [ca. October 1801]

Catalog Record 

801.10.00.03+

Acquired June 2018