Concerning the internal arrangement of the following work, a few explanations seem necessary.
Where a street is mentioned without the town being specified, it in all cases refers to a London thoroughfare.
The trades tokens so frequently referred to, it will be scarcely necessary to state, were the brass farthings issued by shop or tavern keepers, and generally adorned with a representation of the sign of the house. Nearly all the tokens alluded to belong to the latter part of the seventeenth century, mostly to the reign of Charles II.
As the work has been two years in the press, the passing events mentioned in the earlier sheets refer to the year 1864.
In a few instances it was found impossible to ascertain whether certain signs spoken of as existing really do exist, or whether those mentioned as things of the past are in reality so. The wide distances at which they are situated prevented personal examination in every case, and local histories fail to give such small particulars.
The rude unattractive woodcuts inserted in the work are in most instances fac-similes, which have been chosen as genuine examples of the style in which the various old signs were represented. The blame of the coarse and primitive execution, therefore, rests entirely with the ancient artist, whether sign painter or engraver.
Translations of the various quotations from foreign languages have been added for the following reasons:--It was necessary to translate the numerous quotations from the Dutch signboards; Latin was Englished for the benefit of the ladies, and Italian and French extracts were Anglicised to correspond with rest.
Errors, both of fact and opinion, may doubtless be discovered in the book. If, however, the compilers have erred in a statement or an explanation, they do not wish to remain in the dark, and any light thrown upon a doubtful passage will be acknowledged by them with thanks. Numerous local signs--famous in their own neighbourhood--will have been omitted, (generally, however, for the reasons mentioned on a preceding page,) whilst many curious anecdotes and particulars concerning their history may be within the knowledge of provincial readers. For any information of this kind the compilers will be much obliged; and should their work ever pass to a second edition, they hope to avail themselves of such friendly contributions.
LONDON, June 1866.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
CHAPTER I. GENERAL SURVEY OF SIGNBOARD HISTORY, 1
CHAPTER II. HISTORIC AND COMMEMORATIVE SIGNS, 45
CHAPTER III. HERALDIC AND EMBLEMATIC SIGNS, 101
CHAPTER IV. SIGNS OF ANIMALS AND MONSTERS, 150
CHAPTER V. BIRDS AND FOWLS, 199
CHAPTER VI. FISHES AND INSECTS, 225
CHAPTER VII. FLOWERS, TREES, HERBS, ETC., 233
CHAPTER VIII. BIBLICAL AND RELIGIOUS SIGNS, 253
CHAPTER IX. SAINTS, MARTYRS, ETC., 279
CHAPTER X. DIGNITIES, TRADES, AND PROFESSIONS, 305
CHAPTER XI. THE HOUSE AND THE TABLE, 375
CHAPTER XII. DRESS; PLAIN AND ORNAMENTAL, 399
CHAPTER XIII. GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY, 414
CHAPTER XIV. HUMOROUS AND COMIC, 437
CHAPTER XV. PUNS AND REBUSES, 469
CHAPTER XVI. MISCELLANEOUS SIGNS, 476