2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
This original circa 1790’s broadside was intended for posting and / or sale on the streets of England on the very same day and immediately following the hanging of the three criminals. Intended as a macabre souvenir as well as to impress Englishmen with penalties for running afoul of the law ! 8 x 14 (blank reverse) with quaint, large woodcut illus at top of three men suspended from the gallows with spectators in foreground and bold headlines: “LAST DYING SPEECHES, BEHAVIOUR, CONFESSIONS OF THOSE THREE UNFORTUNATE MALEFACTORS [with names of the three men and their alias] who were executed this morning on Kennington Common…With remarkable copy of a love letter sent [to one of them] by a young woman with whom he was to have been married.” Two column text with details, commencing with how “…they were brought in a cart from the New Goal…to the place of execution…attended by the sheriffs and constables.” Describes each of them, their crimes, their backgrounds, etc. The last paragraph is the heart-rendering letter written by one of the three to his sweetheart. “July 2, 1796” date has been appended in very small letters in upper blank margin at a later date by a former owner; it may be taken as reliable for its identification. Authentic. 8 x 14; blank reverse. Now very simply affixed to a larger heavier sheet of paper and easily removed as glue spots are merely on each of the corners and two points on the side margins………
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.