Street cries of the world
Street cries were once a popular subject of songs and literature in Britain, continental Europe and elsewhere. Each month from 2018 onwards I'll be scanning and transcribing publications to build this collection.
− British Isles pre-19th century
Pepys Collection: The Cries of London c. 1620
The Manner of Crying Things in London 1640
An Act of Common Councell 1643
The Old Pudding-pye Woman set forth in her colours, &c. c. 1675
Jovial Tom of all Trads, or, The Various Cries of London-City 1687
The Cryes of the City of London Drawne after the Life 1688
Verses made for Women who cry Apples, etc. 1746
Kirk's London Cries playing cards c. 1754
Twelve London Cries done from the Life 1760
Cries of London, as they are daily exhibited in the Streets 1796
Diamonds and Clubs Hearts and Spades
The images presented here were scanned from a set of facsimiles produced in 1974 by the cartographer and antiquarian Harry Margary (1913–98). With the deck came a small printed sheet of historical notes written by Ralph Hyde, the then Keeper of Prints and Maps at the Guildhall Library. According to Hyde, the original set of cards was printed and sold from around 1754 by John Kirk, the proprietor of the Grotto Toy Shop in St Paul’s Churchyard, London. The 7 of Diamonds shows the view from the doorway of the toy shop, and the Jack of Diamonds shows Noble Street, where Kirk had his shop until a few years previously. John Kirk died in 1762 and the family business continued selling toys and playing cards into the early 19th century.
Diamonds and Clubs Hearts and Spades