Souvenir and Programme of the Lord Mayor's Show and Pageant

Souvenir paper table napkin commemorating the Lord Mayor's show and pageant of 1907. The napkin is printed with a woodcut portrait of the new Lord Mayor Sir George Truscott and, in letterpress, a list of streets on the route and highlights of the pageant that included the presentation, by the Lord Mayor, of a 'fancy box of chocolates' to the children of Freemen's Orphan School. The napkin has a pre-printed outer border of red, white and blue flags.

Similar souvenir napkins were printed for every large public event, ceremony or procession that occured in London from the early to mid 20th century. The squares were imported into London from Japan pre-printed with a decorative border in up to 5 colours and a blank central area. Burgess was one of the main printer of such napkins that would be sold for one penny (1d) by street hawkers moving amongst the huge crowds that attended such popular events. As well as providing practical information such as a programme and timetable of the day's events these napkins were also intended to be taken home and kept as a souvenir. Many were framed and used as decoration in working class homes.