49 314
Acquired February 2022
“Frontispiece for ‘A Catalogue of News and Useful Maps Curious and Entertaining Prints, Books of Architecture, Great Variety of Drawing Books in all the Branches of Penmanship And the best of each Kind’; title on scroll, surrounded by prints and maps.”–British Museum online catalogue.
File 66 766 C357
Acquired November 2021
“Trade card of Peter Griffin, printseller, at Dial and Three Crowns, Next the Globe Tavern, Fleet Street, from the late Overtons; text on sheet at the centre with clock face and three crowns above; with various prints overlapping behind it, including maps, portraits, satires, and ornaments.”–British Museum online catalogue.
File 66 747 G852
Acquired November 2021
“Title page to catalogue of John Bowles, printer and printseller, at the Black Horse, Cornhill, London; text in rectangle at the centre, with naval scene showing two ships on the sea below; behind the text a map, a letter to Mr John Bowles, a landscape and a study of eyes.”–British Museum online catalogue.
File 66 733 C593
Acquired November 2021
145 N523 1802
Acquired July 2021
“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.
804.08.13.01+
Acquired May 2021
Views of Rome (including the Vatican City), London, Amsterdam, and Tangier.
724 690R
Acquired March 2021
A comic map of Great Britain: an old woman is shown in profile, facing to the left, and seated on the back of a dolphin-like monster. At the top her cap is Scotland; her neck is labeled R. Tees (River Tees) and along her back is “Humber” and “The Wash” The mouth of the creature is labeled “Thames”. The other points on the map are: Isle of Wight and Bristol Channel, Cardogan Bay, and Anglesea (a bird perched on the woman’s out-stretched hand).
Drawings H893 no. 1 Box D128
Acquired May 2021
General magazine of arts and sciences, philosophical, philological, mathematical and mechanical.
61 G285
Acquired September 2020
82 814Pl v.1
Acquired February 2020