The Gord-ian knot still untied

description below

“Two women …, the Duchess of Gordon and her daughter, weep beside an ornate coffin on trestles decorated with ducal coronets and the arms and crest, ‘Che Sara Sara’, of the Duke of Bedford. The Duchess, grossly fat and much caricatured, her hands on her hips, stands on the left, saying, “You intended to ha’a him my dear if you cauld thats certain or ony of the Family, but ne’er heed it Chiel I’ll take You down to the Abbey [Woburn] and try again.” She wears a Scots cap on a wig with short curls. Lady Georgiana (right) stands with both arms extended, staggering backwards, in uncontrolled despair. A miniature on a velvet ribbon has fallen from one wrist, another is about to fall. She exclaims: “Ah me, a luckless Maid, thus crossed in hope & expectation too. quite lost in both Attempts, the one for ever gone the other far too Cold, to feel the genial warmth of mine and Mothers Love. I’ll take me to my Weeds & shew the World the ne’er was Love like mine.” Her hat and necklace lie on the coffin; her curled wig, flung off by her extravagant gestures, is about to fall on it. Broadside ballads lie on the ground; beside the Duchess: ‘There’s Nae luck about the House’ and ‘We’ll tuck up our petticoats under our arm and over . . .’ Beside her daughter: ‘Wither my Love ah Wither art thou gone’ [cf. British Museum Satires No. 9311] and ‘Mad Bessy of Bedl[am]’.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Williams, Charles, active 1797-1830, printmaker.
  • Title: The Gord-ian knot still untied, or, The disapointed [sic] Dido still in despair [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. May 9th, 1802, by S.W. Fores, 50 Piccadilly, [9 May 1802]

Catalog Record

802.05.09.01+

Acquired June 2024

See-Dan

description below

“Burdett (right) and Brougham (left) as chairmen, carry (left to right) a bottomless sedan-chair enclosing O’Connell, who is forced to walk rapidly, looking from the window towards Brougham to say ‘Mighty like a walk this after all’. He wears barrister’s wig and gown. The chair is surmounted by shamrock and is inscribed ‘M.P.’ The chairmen wear livery coats; Burdett is bareheaded, and wears his usual top-boots and breeches; Brougham wears barrister’s wig and bands with a battered hat.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  • Title: See-Dan [graphic] / [man with umbrella] Esqr.
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. May 1829 by T. McLean, 26 Haymarket …, May 1829.

Catalog Record

829.05.00.12+

Acquired June 2024

Polly & Lucy takeing off the restrictions

description below

“The Regent, as Macheath, wearing military uniform and heavily shackled, stands between Mrs. Fitzherbert, who kneels at his feet (left) removing his leg-irons, and Lady Hertford (right), who stands beside him taking the fetters from his wrists (inscribed ‘Restri[ctions]’), He sings “How happy could I be with either.” Mrs. Fitzherbert, a long rosary dangling from her waist, says: “The Benediction of His Holiness light on the Defender of Our Faith.” Lady Hertford, sultana-like in a jewelled turban, says: “You heard of the Row & the Rowly Powly Song before Our house the Other Night?!!” Behind and on the right Eldon stands full-face between Perceval and McMahon, who face each other in profile. Perceval, in his Chancellor of the Exchequer’s gown, and holding a brief-bag, says: “The Greys won’t move without their own Coachman tho the Brewer [Whitbread] has offerd his black to do the dirty Work.” Eldon, in a huge wig, holds the Purse of the Great Seal; he says: “We must hire Jobs for the Night Work but we are Pro’ Rogued.” McMahon, in military uniform, has a number of ribbons and stars hanging over his arm; he says: “These Garters & Ribbonds are all returned.” On the wall are two pictures: George Hanger, bestriding his pony (as in No. 8889) with a burly bailiff seated behind him, rides in the direction of a sign-post, with a noose hanging from it, pointing ‘To the Kings Bench’. This is ‘George & his Hanger On, takeing a ride together to a Lodging in Surry’. The other is Sheridan as Bacchus, but dressed as Harlequin (cf. British Museum Satires No. 9916), bestriding a cask of ‘Old Sherry’.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878, printmaker.
  • Title: Polly & Lucy takeing off the restrictions [graphic] : vide Beggars opera / G. Cruikshank sulp.
  • Publication: [London] : Published March 1812 by J. Jonhston, 98 Cheapside, [March 1812]

Catalog Record

812.03.00.03+

Acquired February 2024

Triumph of love and folly

description below

Print showing George IV being carried in a sedan chair by two men wearing judicial wigs and robes, one carries a sceptor; on the top of the chair sits Queen Caroline holding a noise maker, she tells the porters to “Keep joging, I’le be your Pilot, don’t fear his Wakeing – I have Composed his Highness, I warrant you.” George IV pours out the contents of a bottle labeled “opium” and on the ground next to the chair is a broken bottle also labeled “opium.”
“Political satire: the Prince Regent carried in a chair by two judges, with Mrs Fitzherbert on the roof with two babies, followed by the cabinet.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Elmes, William, active 1797-1820, printmaker.
  • Title: Triumph of love and folly [graphic] / E-s [Elmes].
  • Publication: London : Pubd. Aprl. 24, 1812, by Thos. Tegg, 111 Cheapside, [24 April 1812]

Catalog Record

824.04.24.01+

Acquired September 2023

Buy a broom?!!

description below

“Brougham stands in profile to the left, selling brooms; he holds up one, two are under his left arm. He wears a barrister’s wig and bands, with a small conical cap tied under the chin, a tight-fitting bodice, and a full petticoat to the knee, showing flat feet and large and ill-formed legs in black stockings. The dress is that of the German and Flemish girls who sold brooms in the London streets …”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878, printmaker.
  • Title: Buy a broom?!! [graphic] / John Birch delt. ; Query fecit.
  • Publication: London : Pubd. May 13th, 1825, by G. Humphrey, 24 St. James’s St. St. [sic], [13 May 1825]

Catalog Record

825.05.13.01

Acquired November 2023

The Catholic sovereign safety-coach

description below

“Apparently an imitation (better drawn) of British Museum Satires No. 15716. Wellington drives (left to right) four galloping horses, each with a human head. The leaders are Lyndhurst (piebald) and Scarlett (black), both wearing legal wigs; the wheelers Brougham, also in his wig, and Burdett. He flicks his lash over the leaders, saying, ‘Kim up Motley–keep together odd Rat [Lyndhurst] ye–or I’ll lay it into ye!!’ The King’s (pleased) face is seen through the coach window; he says: ‘I say Arthur, you are the Man Wot can make’m go, if you like!!’ The guard is Lady Conyngham: she stands up, blowing her horn. She wears a guard’s greatcoat and satchel over her dress and holds a blunderbuss. The coach is the ‘Windsor Castle’; ‘Wellington & Co.’; ‘G R 1829’. It has just passed and overturned a two-wheeled ass-cart, the ass falling on its head, the driver, Eldon, sprawling on the ground. In the cart, which is inscribed ‘John Eldon Rubbish Carter’ [see British Museum Satires No. 15700, &c], are big bundles of ‘Anti-Catholic Petetions’ [see British Museum Satires No. 15661, &c.]. Standing behind and below the guard’s dickey is Peel as ‘cad’, or conductor; he thumbs his nose at Eldon, saying, ‘There’s a Guard for the Sovereign eh!!!’ Windsor Castle is on the extreme left; on the extreme right is a signpost pointing (left) to ‘Windsor’ and (right) ‘To London’.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Jones, Thomas Howell, active 1823-1848, printmaker.
  • Title: The Catholic sovereign safety-coach [graphic] : a new start from the castle Windsor – a regular out and outer / T.J. fect.
  • Publication: London : Pubd. 1829 by S.W. Fores, 41 Piccadilly, [April? 1829]

Catalog Record

829.04.00.19+

Acquired September 2023

Case of frightful destitution

description below

“Eldon as a street-beggar kneels on both knees on straw placed on paving-stones, wearing a cap resembling those worn by butchers and the rags of a Chancellor’s gown over tattered breeches. He supports himself by a staff, and holds out his short powdered wig. Beside him (left) lies an empty and dilapidated bag inscribed The Old Bagg [cf. British Museum Satires No. 12883]. He looks down with a gloomy scowl, and from his closed lips rise the words: Pity the sorrows of a poor old man [cf. British Museum Satires Nos. 13991, 16236]–vide beggars petition, Tricked out of Work by a Soldier. Round his neck is tied a placard reaching below the waist, and inscribed: Pity a poor Old Man out of Place, at the age of 78 [76], and though extremely anxious, for employment, disappointed in, all his expectations of procuring the Same. His pension is only 4.000 P A [cf. British Museum Satires No. 10714] and not a Dinner has been dressed in his house within the memory of man! He has a wife to support, and a Son to provide for, who holds only Eight Appointments! Beside him an emaciated dog stands on its hindlegs holding a begging-dish, with a piteous expression.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  • Title: Case of frightful destitution [graphic] : the fatal effects of getting out of chancery!!! / [man with an umbrella] Esq. del.
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. by T. McLean, 26 Haymarket, London, [approximately January 1828]

Catalog Record

828.01.00.06+

Acquired May 2023

The lovely Sacarissa dressing for the Pantheon

description below

“A stout, ugly, and elderly woman holds in her left hand a barber’s block, with a carved head in profile, on which is an elaborate pyramidal wig with ringlets. This she is covering with powder or flour from a dredger. Her hair is short and scanty; on her head is a very large black patch, two smaller ones are on her temple. She is dressed in undergarments, showing stays, and frilled petticoat over which is worn a pocket. Her dress, the bodice of which is almost cylindrical from its stiffening whalebone, is on a stool behind her. Her back is turned to the casement window (right) through which look two grinning old women, wearing frilled muslin caps. Over the window, and over the wall on its left, is a heavily festooned curtain. Sacarissa stands facing a low rectangular table (left), on which are a bottle and wine-glass, a candle (?) in a triangular shade, which is falling over, having apparently been knocked by the wig, patches, a comb, a paper, &c. Behind on the wall, in deep shadow, is a picture of a dome inscribed “The Pantheon”.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Dawe, Philip, printmaker.
  • Title: The lovely Sacarissa dressing for the Pantheon [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : [publisher not identified], publish’d Feby. 24, 1772.

Catalog Record

772.02.24.02+

Acquired April 2023

Packwood’s address, he’s not lesser, a perfumer than hair-dresser

description below

An advertisement in verse, with two columns of letterpress text beginning “With humblest deference we greet …”; wood-engraved illustration at top depicting two ladies trying on wigs both facing a bust with “Princes’ Royal” on plinth; an “Explanation” printed below in five lines; all within a typographic ornament border.

  • Author: Packwood, George.
  • Title: Packwood’s address, he’s not lesser, a perfumer than hair-dresser.
  • Publication: [London] : W. Bailey, printer […], [1788]

Catalog Record

File 66 788 P119

Acquired December 2021

Boggis and Clark hair dressers

description below

Text within banners surrounding central image, clockwise from upper right: Toupees; Wholesale & Retail; Cushion’s; Braids; Perfumery; Wigs

  • Title: Boggis and Clark hair dressers, No. 16, Ivey Lane, Newgate Street, London [graphic] / Terry sculp., Pater Noster Row.
  • Publication: [London] : [Boggis and Clark], [between 1770 and 1796]

Catalog Record

File 66 770 B674

Acquired November 2021