Napkin, handkerchief, serviette

Souvenir paper table napkin commemorating the visit of the Emperor and Empress of Germany to London to attend the unveiling of the Queen Victoria Memorial in May 1911. The napkin is printed with woodcut portraits of the Emperor & Empress and King George V and a woodcut illustration of the memorial that stands before Buckingham Palace. In letterpress are the words of a poem by G Henderson written to commemorate the event. The napkin is surrounded by a coloured border incorporating the German national flag.

Similar souvenir napkins were printed for every large, popular 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.