The procession of the Lord Mayor of London

“Stylised representation of the Lord Mayor’s procession, framing a blank space in the centre of the sheet; two rows of figures at the top, 7 groups one above the other to either side, and the City Counsel on foot, the Aldermen and Lord Mayor on horseback forming the bottom of the frame.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • PrintmakerCole, James, 1715-1774, printmaker.
  • TitleThe procession of the Lord Mayor of London, 29th of October [graphic].
  • Publication[London] : Published according to act of Parliament Novemr. the 4th, 1742, and sold by James Cole engraver in Great Kirby Street, Hatton Garden, [4 November 1742]

Catalog Record 

File 66 742 C689++

Acquired November 2017

The children of India worshiping the golden calf

“Indian men and women kneel before a large rectangular pedestal on which stands a golden calf with the head of Hastings. Three Indians lie on the pedestal at Hastings’s feet, making gestures of despair and entreaty. From his mouth protrudes a sword (left) inscribed ‘The Brand of Devastation’. On his back sits Wilkes facing the tail (right) which he lifts with one hand; in the other is the cap of ‘Liberty’ in which he catches large jewels excreted by the Golden Calf. He wears a livery gown and says: “Who would not wipe a Calf’s Backside, To gain the Sparks of Eastern Pride”. At the Calf’s feet lie a crown, sceptre, and orb, with (?) scimitars. On the ground and on the extreme left a well-dressed man stands before an altar holding a knife which drips blood over the altar; he says, pointing to an Indian who lies at his feet, stabbed through the heart: ‘When British Judges rule the Coast, The Natives must obey, No palliative means we boast, By G——you die or pay’. In the foreground (right) stand Thurlow and a military officer. The Chancellor, who wears his wig and robe, is blindfolded; in his right hand he holds erect the ‘Sword of Justice’, which is being taken from him by the officer who holds a diamond against the blade. In Thurlow’s left hand is a bag inscribed ‘Gold Moors’; he says: “Which Powerful God my wavering mind controuls, And my Sage Brows with Golden bands infolds, ‘Tis Mammons self I can be Just no more, Take thou the Sword give me the Golden Store”. The officer, who wears a wallet or haversack inscribed ‘Diamonds’, says: “So shall we Triumph while the Diamond’s smile, Can melt the Soul and Justice’s beguile.” Three Indians who kneel in the foreground below the pedestal of the Golden Calf are offering money (a bag inscribed ‘Gold Moors’) and jewel-boxes to Hastings.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • TitleThe children of India worshiping the golden calf [graphic] : this be thy God O India! who has brought thee to the verge of destruction.
  • Publication:[ London] : Publish’d May 15, 1788, by J. Berry, No. 129 Oxford Road, [15 May 1788]

Catalog Record 

Drawer 788.05.15.01

Acquired October 2017

The bear broke loose

“A muzzled bear sits up, as if begging, on a fat woman who lies on her back. She says: “Gemini! what a Weight! my poor dear Mr Dripping was quite a Feather to him”. The bear’s keeper (right) raises his club, saying, “Down Bruin! I’ll teach you to ride the high Horse”. A dog (right) springs towards the bear. A man (left) runs off, saying, “D——m me I’ll be off! . . . [etc.]”.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Grinagain, Giles, printmaker, artist.
  • Title:The bear broke loose [graphic] / Giles Grinagain invt. et fect.
  • Publication:[London] : Published Decbr. 20th, 1801, by S. Howitt, Panton Street, [20 December 1801]

Catalog Record 

801.12.20.03

Acquired November 2017

I wish you the same madam with all my heart!!

An obese, angry-faced man in a night cap sits in a chair in glaring out the window, his two gouty feet propped up on a pillow and his arms both also bandaged and the right arm in a sling. He is wearing a night cap and a heavy, lined robe; a cane rests against the arm of his upholstered chair. On the table to his right and on the floor to his left are many bottles of medicine with labels. Behind him on the wall is a framed picture of a volcano. decorating three panes of glass are sprigs of holly (?) with red berries.

  • TitleI wish you the same madam with all my heart!! [graphic].
  • Publication[London] : Published Decr. 1832 by O. Hodgson, Cloth Fair, Smithfield, [December 1832]

Catalog Record 

832.12.00.01

Acquired March 2018

Gin, two-penny & tobacco

3 women, one with a basket on her head, another smoking a pipe

Three women, two standing and one sitting smoking a pipe, converse outside a shop, ‘Fine Cordial Gin, two penny & best Virginia’.

  • Printmaker: Grinagain, Giles, printmaker, artist.
  • Title: Gin, two-penny & tobacco [graphic] / Giles Grinagain in. et fect.
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. July 25, 1802, by S. Howitt, Panton Street, Haymarkt, [25 July 1802]

Catalog record 

802.07.25.02

Acquired November 2017

The fall of the Wolsey of the Woolsack / Vices overlook’d in the new proclamation

“Thurlow, seated on the Woolsack, and George III who stands on the extreme left, tug at the bag of the Great Seal, while Pitt and Grenville (right) attempt to dislodge the Chancellor. The King, in profile to the right, tugs with both hands, saying, “What! What! What! – pull against me Neddy? pull against me? – no! no! no! – ‘twont do!” –excerpt from British Museum online catalogue

With an impression on the verso of a reprint of James Gillray’s, with number in upper right ’80’: Vices overlook’d in the new proclamation. [London] : Pubd. May 24th 1792 by H. Humphrey, N. 18, Old Bond Street, [24 May 1792].

  • PrintmakerGillray, James, 1756-1815, printmaker.
  • TitleThe fall of the Wolsey of the Woolsack [graphic].
  • Edition[State with plate no.].
  • Publication[London] : Pubd. May 24th, 1792, by H. Humphrey, No. 18 Old Bond Street [i.e. H.G. Bohn], [1849?]

Catalog Record

792.05.24.02.01+

Acquired February 2017

The grounds

Satire on Robert Walpole, showing the grounds for the Motion to remove him from office.

  • TitleThe grounds [graphic].
  • Publication[London] : [publisher not identified], publish’d according to act of Parliament, March 7, 1741.

Catalog Record

741.03.07.02.3+

Acquired March 2017

Mr. Robert Rasp letting fall a perpendicular from his saddle

A plate with four images each separately titled. Upper left: With series title (Mathematical horsemanship. Plate 5) above and caption title (Mr. Robert Rasp letting fall a perpendicular from his saddle) below showing a rider falling off the side of his horse with two others in a similar state in the distance. Also with a cityscape with a domed church in the distance. Upper right, Pl. 6. Mr. Benjanin Bukskin & his horse performing their evolutions, within the circumference of a circle: A rider is thrown over the front of his horse with another rider in the distance falling off the back, a dog pulling at the reins; a city with a domed church also in the distance. Lower left, Fashionable furniture at Hogs Norton. Plate 2: a series of six images of clothes being dried in front of a hearth, table, chairs, coal scuttle, etc. Lower right, Fashionable furniture at Hogs Norton. Plate 1: a series of six images including chimney ornaments, a large cat, plate, mirror, clock, etc.

  • PrintmakerRowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827, printmaker.
  • TitleMr. Robert Rasp letting fall a perpendicular from his saddle [graphic] / Woodward del. ; Rowlandson sc. ; Mr. Benjamin Bukskin & his horse performing their evolutions, within the circumference of a circle ; Fashionable furniture. Plate 2 ; Fashionable furniture. Plate 1.
  • Published[London] : [Thomas Tegg], [1809]

Catalog Record

809.00.00.16 Impression 1

Acquired February 2017

The Union-Club

Four lines of verse on either side of title: “We’ll join hand in hand, all party shall cease, “and glass after glass, shall our union increase …

  • PrintmakerGillray, James, 1756-1815, printmaker.
  • TitleThe Union-Club [graphic] / Js. Gillray invt. & fect.
  • PublicationLondon : Publish’d Jany. 21st, 1801, by H. Humphrey, St. James’s Street, [21 January 1801]

Catalog Record

801.01.21.01+

Acquired March 2017

Gloria mundi, or, The Devil addressing the sun / The V- Committee framing a report

Charles James Fox, with the feet and tail of a fox, his empty pockets turned out, and with cow horns protruding through his hat, stands on an E.O. (gaming) table placed on the North Pole. Quoting Satan’s speech from Paradise Lost, he looks to the upper right where the sun is depicted as Lord Shelburne. Refers to Fox’s gambling habit and his July 1782 resignation after Shelburne’s appointment as First Lord of the Treasury.

Printed on verso, an uncolored impression of: The V- Committee framing a report. [London] : Pubd. according to act of Parliament, Augt. 12th, 1782 by C. Atkinson, and sold in Mark Lane!!!

  • PrintmakerGillray, James, 1756-1815, printmaker.
  • TitleGloria mundi, or, The Devil addressing the sun [graphic].
  • Edition[State with plate no.].
  • Publication[London] : Pubd. July 22d by W. Humphrey [i.e. H.G. Bohn], [1849?]

Catalog Record

782.07.22.01.3+

Acquired February 2017