How to obtain a request

A social satire: a beggar wearing ragged clothes and leaning on a crutch hold his hat out towards a old, well-dressed woman as he says, “My angelic young lady! Heaven preserve your ladyship’s beautiful shape and countenance these thousand years! Give a halfpenny to a poor old man.” Her face is caricatured, with a large pig-like nose from which long hairs protrude and with growths on her face, but she carries a parasol and is fashionably dressed and wears a feather and flower in her hair and earrings and large beaded necklace.

• Printmaker: Grinagain, Giles, printmaker, artist.
  
• Title: How to obtain a request [graphic] / Giles Grinagain invt. et fect.
  
• Publication: [London] : Published Febry. 1st, 1802, by S. Howitt, Panton Str., Haymarket, [1 February 1802]

Catalog Record 

802.02.01.07

Acquired November 2017

Poor Mr. Bull in a pretty situation

“John Bull, a fat “cit”, is beset by descending water covered with the word ‘Tax’, many times repeated, in which dogs, cats, and pitchforks fall with violence. His eyes and spectacles are transfixed by a pitchfork inscribed ‘Window Tax’; the shaft of another inscribed ‘Malt & Hops Tax’ sticks in his bleeding mouth, dislodging teeth. His paunch is pierced with a third fork; the handle, inscribed ‘Tax …’ [&c. &c], supports an angry cat, spitting ‘Tax …’ Another falling cat knocks off his wig, which emits a cloud of powder inscribed ‘Powder Tax’. His gouty feet, in slashed shoes, are stabbed by three pitchforks: ‘Corn Laws’ [the biggest, cf. British Museum Satires No. 15510]; ‘Leather Tax’; ‘Land Tax’. A ‘Dog Tax’ strikes down J. B.’s dog, its collar inscribed ‘Poor Tray’. Another dog worries a cat (left). J. B. holds up a derelict umbrella, inscribed ‘Trade’, pierced by many prongs and useless.”–British Museum online catalogue.

• Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  
• Title: Poor Mr. Bull in a pretty situation [graphic] : for the rain it raineth every day / W. Heath.
  
• Publication: [London : Pub. March 20, 1830, by T. McLean, 26 Haymarket, London, 20 March 1830]

Catalog Record & Digital Collection

830.03.20.02+

Acquired May 2016

Mess. Kellys, whip and umbrella-makers to the Prince of Wales and Princess Royal

Handbill with a woodcut showing opened and closed umbrellas on either side of the royal coat of arms above title.

• Title: Mess. Kellys, whip and umbrella-makers to the Prince of Wales and Princess Royal, The King’s Arms, No. 139, near Somerset House, Strand, London.
  
• Published: [London : Mess. Kellys, ca. 1790]

Catalog Record & Digital Collection

File 66 790 K29

Acquired July 2014

A West India sportsman

A satire on the decadence of Englishmen in West Indies, published shortly after the successful passage of Wilberforce’s bill to abolish slavery.

• Printmaker: F., J., printmaker.
  
• Title: A West India sportsman : [graphic] / : Make haste with the Sangaree, Quashie, and tell Quaco to drive the birds up to me . I’m ready / J.F. [monogram].
  
• Published: [London : Published Novr. 1, 1807 by William Holland, No. 11 Cockspur Street, London, 1 November 1807]

Catalog Record & Digital Image

807.11.01.01

Acquired June 2014