The city sheep shearing

description below

“Three men shear four rams with human faces and long spiral horns. The first (left), still unshorn, has the bottle-nose and drink-blotched face of Curtis; a large bell hangs from his neck; he bleats B A A A A A A. His shearer says: Come along you Blubber–alias Bell Weather S’Blood what a Cur ’tis; in his pocket is a paper: Quintus Curtius. He is Quin, who took an active part against Flower. The second, Councillor Waithman (a draper), holds Flower, the Mayor, labelled The Flower of the Flock, who is almost shaved; he says: Egad I have Cut them preelly [sic] close; his shears, like those of Quin, are inscribed Vox Popula [sic]. The third, Alderman Harvey Combe, uses a comb. He holds Alderman Price and says to Waithman: Ne’er Wait man I have Combed them well–. Price says: N’o Blubber Sperm fetches the best Price. Beside him is another ram (Shaw), completely shorn and dejected; it says: Pshaw I can never Stand upright in the presence of a great Mon but always Keep Booing, booing [cf. British Museum Satires No. 11306].”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Cruikshank, Isaac, 1764-1811, printmaker.
  • Title: The city sheep shearing [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Published by S.W. Fores, No. 50 Piccadilly, April 12th, 1809.

Catalog Record

809.04.12.01

Acquired September 2023

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

The British farmer’s cyclopaedia

  • Author: Potts, Thomas, 1778-1842.
  • Title: The British farmer’s cyclopaedia, or, Complete agricultural dictionary … / Embellished with forty-two engravings.
  • Publication: London : Printed by W. Flint for Scatcherd and Letterman, Ave-maria-Lane, and M. Jones, No. 1 Paternoster-Row, 1807.

Catalog Record

69 807 P871

Acquired June 2020