Thomas Santell

Copper-engraved billhead with handwritten Invoice issued by Thomas Santell, tallow chandler located at Saffron Hill, near Hatton Garden. The invoice, dated July 20th 1751, refers to a supply of spermaceti candles to the Hucks household. The billhead includes a royal coat of arms indicating that Thomas Santell supplied spermaceti or tallow candles to the royal household. Both the engraved and handwritten script is English, round hand. Tallow candles were the cheapest form of domestic candle. Produced from animal fats they emited more smoke and smell than the more expensive varieties such as beeswax. Spermaceti candles, manufactured from oil removed from the head of the sperm whale. were increasingly available in the second half of the 18th century as the whaling trade increased. They were popular as they did not smell as repugnant as tallow when burned and produced a brighter light. Being harder than tallow or beeswax Spermaceti candles were also less likely to soften or bend in the summer heat.