Printed Ephemera — 1850
Bill, poster
In the 18th and 19th centuries Londoners flocked to the capital's pleasure gardens to enjoy an evening's entertainment outdoors. Vauxhall Gardens was London’s most famous pleasure garden. Opened at Vauxhall in about 1660 under the name ‘New Spring Gardens’, its enclosed grounds and tree-lined walks provided a fashionable place where Londoners of all classes could meet and promenade. It closed in 1859.
Technical developments in the printing industry brought new typefaces which venues seized upon to create bold and eye-catching bills. The promised attractions were described in great detail and often illustrated with wood-block engravings.
Pleasure gardens competed for visitors, vying with each other to offer evermore extravagant and spectacular entertainments. This playbill advertises the programme of entertainments at Vauxhall Gardens for the week beginning Monday 19 August 1850.
- Category:
- Printed Ephemera
- Object ID:
- 74.24/30
- Object name:
- bill, poster
- Object type:
- bill, poster
- Artist/Maker:
- Fairbrother, S.G.
- Related people:
- —
- Related events:
- —
- Related places:
- 31 Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, Camden
- Production date:
- 1850
- Material:
- paper
- Measurements/duration:
- H 504 mm, W 504 mm
- 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.