Printed Ephemera — 1802-1819
Pretty Betty Brill Song Sheet
Song sheet printed as a handbill with the words of 'Pretty Betty Brill' as sung by Joseph Grimaldi, at Sadler's Wells theatre. On the top half of the sheet is printed a hand coloured engraving depicting the clown buying fish from Betty Brill in Fish Street Hill.
Such flyers printed with the words of songs sung in London's theatres were extremely popular. Mass printed they would be sold cheaply by street sellers, often standing outside the theatre to enable the theatre goers to sing along during the performance. The printer of this ballad John Pitts was a leading figure among the small back street ballad and songsheet printers based in the Seven Dials area of Covent Garden. He established his business in Great Andrew Street in 1802.
- Category:
- Printed Ephemera
- Object ID:
- A6901
- Object name:
- Pretty Betty Brill Song Sheet
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Pitts, John
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1802-1819
- Material:
paper, ink
- Measurements/duration:
- H 280 mm, W 192 mm (overall)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.