The History of Whittington And His Cat
The History of Whittington
And His Cat
Printed and published at W.S. Fortey’s (The Catnach Press) nd c.1820 ?
£20
(215x140mm.), pictorial paper wrappers, 8pp., 10 engravings (4 coloured), edges browned and torn, but fair copy.
It’s a slight thing but I couldn’t resist copying this notification on the back cover –
“The Cheapest and Greatest Variety in the Trade of Large Coloured Penny Books; Halfpenny Coloured Books; Farthing Books; Penny and Halfpenny Panoramas; School Books; Penny and Halfpenny Song Books; Memorandum Books; Poetry Cards; Lotteries; Ballads (4,000 sorts) and Hymns; Valentines’ Scripture Sheets; Christmas Pieces; Twelfth-night Characters; Carols; Book and Sheet Almanacks; Envelopes; Note paper, &c. &c.”
The Catnach Press, father and son printers, were leaders in the expanding market for cheap publications for the masses. They started using real paper and ink instead of some cheap substitutes available at the time. They also printed sensationalist accounts of crimes, conspiracies and scandals.
The V&A has 11 works related to W.S. Fortey in their theatre and prints collections.