Napkin, handkerchief, serviette

Souvenir paper table napkin commemorating the Lord Mayor's show of 1905. The napkin includes a woodcut portrait of the new Lord Mayor Walter Morgan and a programme of the event including a street by street guide to the processional route that included three cars representing the Anglo-French Alliance, 'Peace' and the 'Colonies'. Surrounding the programme is a pink floral border.

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. On this example the firm of Burgess is described as 'Wholesale and Export Souvenir Handkerchief Printers.' 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.