Banknotes

S.W.Fores No. 5, for Self, Lapstone, Staytape, Tossup & Winem, 2 Pence, 6 February 1819, promising to pay ‘Coll Pattypan & Sam Roarer Esq or Bearer, on the erection of a Statue of the late Heaven-born Minister composed of Pure Puff Paste, or Papier-machee, or Calf’s-head jelly, in Guildhall’, signed by Tim Tartlet and Sam Noisymouth, with a vignette showing what appears to be a gibbet, labelled ‘We restore liberty, and rank among the best correctives for baseness’, extremely fine £100-£150

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Sir David Kirch Collection of Skit Notes.

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Collection

This note is probably ironic, as it suggests that the axe and gibbet are restorers of liberty. The names and suggestions of statues made of unsuitable materials are all highly Cruikshankian