Object types
print (scope note | all objects)
broadside (scope note | all objects)
Title (object)
God's Works is the Worlds Wonder.
Materials
paper (all objects)
Techniques
letterpress (all objects)
woodcut (scope note | all objects)
Production person
Published by John Deacon (biographical details | all objects)
Printed by M Haley (biographical details | all objects)
Printed by John Millet (biographical details | all objects)
Production place
Printed in London (scope note | all objects)
Date
1684
Schools /Styles
British (all objects)
Description
A broadside on the frost fair held in London on the River Thames in the winter 1683/1684; with a woodcut showing numerous stalls and people on the frozen Thames, in the background London Bridge, and on the sides houses and churches, at the top of the image the coats-of-arms of the City of London and the Watermen; with cut inscription and numbering 1-50, and with letterpress title, legend, and verses in three columns. (London, M.H[aley] and J.M[illet]: 168[4])
Inscriptions
Inscription Content: Publication line "Printed by M.H. and J.M. and are to be sold by J Deacon, at the sign of the Angel in Guiltspur-Street, without Newgate".
Dimensions
Height: 440 millimetres (printed area)
Width: 331 millimetres (printed area)
Height: 199 millimetres (woodcut)
Width: 327 millimetres (woodcut)
Curator's comments
The imprint with printers' initials only.
This sheet was to be sold by J Deacon "at the sign of the Angel in Guiltspur-Street, without Newgate" [here not treated as publisher]
This is not recorded by Plomer.
For a related broadsided, see BM 1880-11-13-1769 [Crace VIII 16], which was "sold by Robert Walton and John Seller"
Text from Antony Griffiths, 'The Print in Stuart Britain', BM 1998 cat.202:
The famous frost of the winter of 1683-4 froze the Thames for nearly two months, from the beginning of December until the 4 February. As the broadsheet states, it continued so cold and the ice so thick 'that men and beasts, coaches and carts, went as frequently thereon as boats were wont to pass before. There was also a street of booths built from the Temple to Southwark, where were sold all sorts of goods imaginable, namely cloaths, plate, earthen ware, meat, drink, brandy, tobacco and a hundred sorts of other commodities not here inserted. It being a wonder of this present age, and a great consternation to all the spectators.'
Such frosts occurred on average twice a century until the mid nineteenth century, when, with the demolition of the old bridges, the current was no longer obstructed. The paradox of a fair held on water seized the popular imagination, and gave rise to numerous events such as bull baiting and fox hunting, as well as a considerable ephemeral literature.
Ref
cf Crace VIII 15
cf Plomer, p.139
Subject
frost fair (all objects)
Associated events
Associated Event Frost Fair
1684
Associated places
Topographic representation of London (scope note | all objects)
Acquisition date
1871
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