Handkerchief, commemorative handkerchief

Cotton; plate print in black dye, borders block printed in green and brown dye, about 1876. Held annually from 1845 in a stretch of the Thames between Putney and Mortlake, the Oxford and Cambridge boat race was instituted at Henley in 1829, the length of the course varying over the years. The faded border of roses, thistles and shamrock was probably originally prepared for mulitple use with various themes.

Cream cotton with faint green block printed border, overprinted in light brown. Centre printed from engraved plate in black. Edges left raw. Plan of route, results and six scenes along route of Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. Border with narrow scalloped band and thistles, shamrocks and roses. Faded; stained upper right quarter; hole lower left quarter.