A Suffragette Newspaper Seller, April 1909

A Suffragette newspaper seller, April 1909. The image depicts a Suffragette walking along the street selling the weekly 'Votes for Women' newspaper. As well as carrying an armful of newspapers she wears a billboard printed with the headline from that week's newspaper.
'Votes for Women' was first published in 1907. The mass distribution of the paper raised significant income for the Women's Social and Political Union and also provided employment for many suffragettes. By 1909, when this photograph was taken, the weekly circulation had reached 20,000. Lone Suffragette newspaper street sellers were highly courageous. Often at risk of heckling and abuse by members of the public they were also required to stand in the kerb to avoid being arrested by the police for obstruction.