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La bonnét-rouge; or John Bull Evading the Hat Tax, 05 April 1797

 Item — Box: LF104/4 Box 1
Reference code: LF104/4/61

Scope and Contents

By James Gillray. John Bull stands full-face on the pavement outside a shop window, holding on his head a red cap trimmed with fur of quasi-military, quasi-libertarian shape. He is the yokel with wrinkled gaiters but a tattered great-coat is held together by a military belt. In his left hand is a ragged hat. He says, with a broad grin: "Wounds, when Master Billy sees I in a Red-Cap, how he will stare! - egad; I thinks I shall cook em at last. - well if I could but once get a Cockade to my Red Cap, & a bit of a Gun - why, I thinks I should make a good stockey Soldier!" The shop is that of 'Billy-Black-Soul [Pitt], Hatter, & Sword-cutler \ Licenced to deal in Hats and Swords.' Above the door (right) are the royal arms and 'Stamp-Office' (the tax on hats being levied by a stamp). Within the window are crossed swords and military cocked hats with a number of stamps bearing the royal arms. In the foreground (left) is a pile of dead cats with a paper: 'List of Cats Killed for making skin caps 20000 Red 5000 Tabb . . .' Description from the British Museum.

Dates

  • Creation: 05 April 1797

Conditions Governing Access

Available by appointment in our Reading Room

Extent

1 Item(s)

Language of Materials

English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and Archives Repository

Contact:
Western Bank Library
University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield South Yorkshire S10 2TN United Kingdom
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