Broadside, frost-fair paper

Letterpress frost-fair keepsake printed on the frozen river Thames during the winter Frost Fair on 5th February 1814. The paper is printed in the form of a title page and reads 'Frostiana: or a history of The River Thames in a frozen state: with an account of the late severe frost; and the wonderful effects of frost, snow, ice and cold in England, and in different parts of the world; interspersed with various amusing anecdotes. To which is added, the art of skating' Printed and published on the ice on the River Thames, February 5th 1814, G.Davis sold also by Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, Paternoster Row.'

Winter frost fairs were held annually on the frozen Thames from the late 16th century. Alongside stalls selling food and drink, fair ground rides and skittle alleys printers set up printing presses and sold souvenirs and personalised keepsakes for a few pennies. Names and messages were printed within pre-set decorative borders. By 1814 there were up to ten printing presses operating at the fair printing not only mementoes and keepsakes but also cards, ballads and leaflets. That year severe frosts and heavy falls of snow rendered the river unavigable and the public roads impassable for several days. At the beginning of February 1814, when this keepsake was printed the river was completely blocked up with ice, between London and Blackfriars bridges, enabling the fair to remain for four days. The addition of sellers names on the sheet indicates such souvenirs had a broad appeal and were not only sold as keepsakes or souvenirs to those visiting the fair.