Eighteen of the most favourite new country dances

An engraved sheet folded and mounted on wooden sticks secured with brass and bone hardware to form a fan, probably designed as a portable aide-memoire, includes musical scores for eighteen dances as well as directions for the dance steps — e.g., “The 2nd Lady Lead round the 2d. Gent, the Gent. Do the Same, Lead Down the middle up again Cast off. Pousete” is given for the Duke of Clarence’s Fancy. The decorative border is hand-colored in pink. On the verso is a sheet decorated with a small emblem with musical instruments and notations.

• Title: Eighteen of the most favourite new country dances [graphic].
  
• Publication: [Edinburgh?] : [publisher not identified], [not before 1791]

Catalog Record 

792.00.00.106 Object Room

Acquired December 2018

A new deceptio visûs

A medley of images with a portrait of John Gay; half length, to the right, wearing a cap and plain jacket; in oval; in a medley of prints, set on background of a letter; the prints titled ‘The Spell’, ‘The Judgement’, and ‘Bumkinet’s Advice’; two further panels, one with a coin of George II, the other lettered ‘A new Deceptio Visus. Engrav’d and sold by Geo. Bickham, in London’ [part of address erased].

• Printmaker: Bickham, George, 1684?-1758?, printmaker, publisher.
  
• Title: A new deceptio visûs [graphic] / engrav’d and sold by Geo. Bickham in Hatton Garden, near Holborn, London.
  
• Published: [London : Geo. Bickham], ca. 1728]

Catalog Record & Digital Collection

728.00.00.08+

Acquired December 2014

This plate (representing a negroes dance in the island of Dominica)

A couple dance together under a lush tree with large fruit hanging from its branches. They are accompanied by two men playing instruments, a drum and tambourine as one woman claps along to the music. Others, including a small girl, stand and converse.

• Printmaker: Brunias, Agostino, 1730-1796, printmaker, artist.
  
• Title: This plate (representing a negroes dance in the island of Dominica) is humbly dedicated to the Honble. Charles O’Hara, Brigadier General of His Majesty’s Army in America …. by his most obedt. & devoted servt.                 A. Brunias [graphic] / A. Brunias pinxt. et sculpt.
  
• Published: London : Published 15 Feby. 1779 by the proprietor N […] Broad Street, [15 February 1779]

Catalog Record & Digital Collection

779.02.15.01

Acquired April 2014