Paintings, Prints & Drawings — 1832
A Copy of Verses for the Year 1832, Humbly Presented to the Worthy Inhabitants of the Parish of St. Sepulchar's Middlesex.
Christmas greetings sheet or 'bellman's verse' conveying the good wishes of the beadle and Constable John Forbes to the inhabitants of the parish of St Sepulchars, Middlesex. The broadside is printed with letterpress verses for the coming year, 1832 and a border of 13 woodcut engravings illustrating the passion of Christ with two additional contemporary border woodcuts, depicting street musicians under a gas lamp and a lady being guided from her front door by the bellman on his nightly watch. The roundel title picture surrounded by a floral border depicts the bellman in the street at his nightly watch and ward accompanied by a night watchman.
Such broadsides were delivered to householders within the bellman's area of responsibility just before christmas, in the hope that a financial 'tip' or token would be given in appreciation of the services provided by the bellman throughout the year. The bellman would also often also recite the verses aloud as he walked through the streets. The sheets were often hung in houses as seasonal decorations. Bellmen were Parish officers responsible for making public announcements in the streets.
- Category:
- Paintings, Prints & Drawings
- Object ID:
- 62.168/3
- Object name:
- A Copy of Verses for the Year 1832, Humbly Presented to the Worthy Inhabitants of the Parish of St. Sepulchar's Middlesex.
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Forbes, John, Quick, John Vandenburg
- Related people:
- —
- Related events:
- —
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1832
- Material:
- paper, ink
- Measurements/duration:
- H 555 mm, W 438 mm (paper)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Credit:
- —
- Copyright holder:
- digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.