print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.5650
- Title
- Object: A Tip-Top Living, or the writing captain supported by the world
- Description
-
Topham sits cross-legged on a terrestrial globe, the poles being on the right and left; a band inscribed 'Equator - Wells' bisects it vertically. He has a plate before him and is cutting up 'Characters' with a knife and fork. The cockade in his hat is formed of three crossed pens. He is surrounded by smoke inscribed 'Reports' and 'Puffs'. Various objects stand on the surface of the globe: an inkstand (on the Blacks Sea), a moneybag inscribed 'Compliment' and labelled 'To the Editor' (on the Pacific Ocean), a decanter of 'Port' (on the 'Red Sea'), a sirloin inscribed 'Bull', a (?) leg of mutton inscribed 'Ram'. Other places on the map are 'Assassins Bay', 'Cape Horn', and 'Rogues Island'. A curving line touching the equator is inscribed 'Ecliptic Line - Scandal'. 10 June 1787
Etching
- Production date
- 1787
- Dimensions
-
Height: 148 millimetres
-
Width: 100 millimetres (corners damaged)
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VI, 1938)
For Topham's daily paper, 'The World', see BMSat 7210, &c. It was noted for its puffs of Mrs. Wells, its sensational personal news, and its attacks on private characters. See 'D.N.B.' Topham had been called a 'Tip-Top Adjutant' in 1779, see BMSat 5596.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.5650