Tag Archives: Lewis Walpole Library November 2023

The western prospect of Bears-Den Hall in Co. Surrey

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View of a house supposedly near Putney Common, satirically called ‘Bear’s Den Hall’, a rickety house with cracked plaster walls and a chimney-stack with broken brick, and with weeds growing from the cracks and on the roof. A key at the top references many of the features of the scene, including a bear is chained by the front door (B) at the left, birds in flight (K). The property is separated from the road in the foreground by a wicket fence, with a satircial armorial crest along the lower edge with portraits of Charles Christian and Skelton.
Satire on social pretensions: a view of a dilapidated cottage set into a garden behind a wooden fence, with a mock coat-of-arms at the bottom.–From variant state in the British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Reisen, Charles Christian, 1680-1725, printmaker.
  • Title: The western prospect of Bears-Den Hall in Co. Surrey [graphic].
  • Edition: [State without Greek motto at bottom of image].
  • Publication: [London] : [publisher not identified], [approximately 1720]

Catalog Record

720.00.00.106

Acquired November 2023

As the Act of Parliament for an additional duty on news-papers

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printed text with hand-written notes

  • Title: As the Act of Parliament for an additional duty on news-papers will take place the 5th of next month … I am sorry I am under the necessity of acquainting you, that, after the expiration of this quarter, the papers you have now from me can no longer be served on present terms; but must, from that day be charged per quarter as under …
  • Publication: [England] : [publisher not identified], [1757]

Catalog Record 

File 66 757 As798

Acquired November 2023

Johnny Bull on the look-out

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“John Bull (right), a fat citizen wearing spectacles, holds aside a curtain, revealing Napoleon and Joséphine enthroned, side by side. He stands in profile to the left, a large pistol under his left arm, his left hand in his coat-pocket. He says: “Boney – Boney, that wont do – You must not Play my King & Queen.” Napoleon, wearing a huge bicorne, a drawn sabre in his right hand, frowns at John. Joséphine wears a crown, holds sceptre and orb and looks complacently to the left. Both sit with right foot planted regally on a stool, and left leg arrogantly thrust forward.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Title: Johnny Bull on the look-out, or, Bonaparte detected drilling his rib at the play of King & Queen of England [graphic] : scene St. Cloud.
  • Publication: [London] : Publish’d Septr. 12, 1803, by Laurie & Whittle, 53 Fleet Street, London, [12 September 1803]

Catalog Record

803.09.12.01

Acquired November 2023

The political cocks

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“Two fighting-cocks, with the heads of Napoleon and Pitt, face each other across the English Channel. Napoleon (left) has a large ruff of tricolour feathers and enormously long spurs, but his wings and tail feathers are clipped. His cliff is the higher; he leans forward, saying, “Eh Master Billy, if I could but take a flight over this Brook I would soon stop your Crowing, I would Knock you off that Perch, I swear by Mahomet, the Pope and all the Idols I have ever Worshiped.” Pitt stands on a large royal crown which brings his feet almost to a level with those of Bonaparte; he stands erect, thus towering above his rival; he has very short spurs but a fine tail and wings; he crows: “Tuck a roo – too that you never can do!!!” Below them lies the sea with a fleet of ships in full sail close to the English coast.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Williams, Charles, active 1797-1830, printmaker.
  • Title: The political cocks [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. March 27th, 1803, by S.W. Fores, 50 Piccadilly, [27 March 1803]

Catalog Record

803.03.27.01

Acquired November 2023

Broken gingerbread

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“A sequel to British Museum Satires No. 10518, Gillray’s ‘Tiddy-Doll’. Napoleon, haggard and desperate, wearing tattered uniform without the former apron and sword, walks in profile to the left, carrying on his head a large tray. On this stand three gingerbread kings, burlesqued and mutilated, with two queens, a detached head (crowned), and (right) a pile of imperial emblems: crowns, mitre, sceptre, eagle, flag, &c. On the left a bonnet rouge hangs from a staff. In the middle stands an imperial eagle with a tricolour flag to which is tied a broom showing that the contents of the tray are for sale. Napoleon says (with grimly closed mouth): “Buy my Image! Here’s my nice little Gingerbread Emperor & Kings Retail and for Exportation!” Behind him is a tumbledown thatched hovel; over an aperture where more gingerbread figures are displayed is a board: ‘Tiddy-Doll Gingerbread Baker. NB Removed from Paris.’ Above fly three of the (carrion) birds associated in these prints with Elba. Napoleon walks towards the sea; across the water (in France) tiny figures dance holding hands round a white flag inscribed ‘Vivent les Bourbons’ and topped by a fleur-de-lis. Behind them is the gable-end of a rustic inn: ‘The Kings Head New Revived’. A fiddler capers on the edge of the cliff, watching Napoleon.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878, printmaker.
  • Title: Broken gingerbread [graphic] / G.H. invt. ; G. Cruikshank fect.
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. April 21st, 1814, by H. Humphrey, St. James’s Street, [21 April 1814]

Catalog Record

814.04.21.01

Acquired November 2023

The coffin expedition, or, Boney’s invincible armada half seas over

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“Gunboats in the form of coffins are foundering or about to founder. Each has a single cannon in the bows, and a mast with a triangular sail whose corner is held in the teeth of the skull which surmounts the mast. The crews all wear shrouds and bonnets rouges; on the skulls also are bonnets rouges. Some of the men are screaming in the water, where a floating skull holds the end of a sail in its teeth, looking round fiercely at one of the drowning men. Others are still in the coffin-gunboats, holding muskets or making gestures of despair. One says: “Oh de Corsican Bougre, was make dese Gun Boats on purpose for our Funeral.” In the background are two British men of war. Two tiny sailors say: “I say Messmate if we dont bear up quickly there will be nothing left for us to do”, and, “Rigt [sic] Tom, & I take them there things at the mast head to be Boney’s Crest, a Skull without Brains.” A satire on the manifest impracticability of an invasion (see British Museum Satires No. 10008) by gunboats without the command of the sea, cf. British Museum Satires Nos. 9995, &c, 10125, 10223, 10231, 10260, 10277.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Williams, Charles, active 1797-1830, printmaker.
  • Title: The coffin expedition, or, Boney’s invincible armada half seas over [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. Jany. 6th, 1804, by S.W. Fores, 50 Piccadilly, [6 January 1804]

Catalog Record

804.01.06.01

Acquired November 2023

The governor of Europe stoped [sic] in his career…

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“Napoleon, trampling over the map of Europe from ‘Germany’ to the ‘British Channel’, drops his sabre and raises his left leg, leaving behind the front part of his left foot, planted on the coast and sea between ‘Holland’ and ‘France’. The foot has been slashed off by a little John Bull, who stands on the ocean pointing down at the two islands of ‘Great Britain’ and ‘Ireland’, towards which the amputated foot points. John holds a dripping sword, and looks up at the angry giant, saying, “I ax pardon Master Boney, but as we says Paws off Pompey, we keep this little Spot to Ourselves You must not Dance here Master Boney.” Blood gushes from both sides of the amputation. Bonaparte, who wears his huge cocked hat, shouts, with gestures of pain and anger: “Ah you tam John Bull!! You have spoil my Dance, !! You have ruin all my Projets!!” ‘Switzerland’ and ‘Italy’ are also marked on the map in close proximity to France.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Williams, Charles, active 1797-1830, printmaker.
  • Title: The governor of Europe stoped [sic] in his career, or, Little B-n to [sic] much for great B-te [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. April 16, 1803, by S.W. Fores, 50 Piccadilly, [16 April 1803]

Catalog Record

803.04.16.01

Acquired November 2023

A specimen of ink lithography from R. Martin’s

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“Advertisement for the lithographers and lithographic printers R. Martin & Co, with various images of the work they undertook, including portraits, landscapes, maps, architectural and animal prints; a tablet at centre in front of the portrait of a man lettered with ‘A Specimen / of / Ink Lithography, / from R. Martin’s / 124 High Holborn.’; armour in foreground at right; a scroll in foreground at centre left signed ‘Henry R’.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Martin, Robert, active 1770-1838, printmaker, publisher.
  • Title: A specimen of ink lithography from R. Martin’s, 124 High Holborn [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : [R. Martin], [1837]

Catalog Record

837.00.00.43

Acquired November 2023

The medical & political record, a new Sunday paper

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printed text

  • Title: The medical & political record, a new Sunday paper. : Prospectus.
  • Publication: [London] : Printed and published by C. Kerwood, at the Medical and Political Record Office, John Street, Edgware Road …, [1820]

Catalog Record

File 66 820 M489

Acquired November 2023

A collection of Georgian-era tokens for London theaters

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small copper coin

A collection of seven copper theater passes or tickets for London theatres dating between 1762 and approximately 1820, all blank on the obverse sides except for the token for the Box Prince’s Side (BPS 1796) which is decorated with a chain of small linked circles around the perimeter. The 1788 token for a box at Covent Garden is the only token with a hole in the center.

  • Title: A collection of Georgian-era tokens for London theaters.
  • Production: [England], [between 1762 and 1820?]

Catalog Record

66 762 C697

Acquired November 2023