Vinegar Valentines For Bad Tradesmen
This second selection from Mike Henbrey‘s extraordinary personal collection of mocking Valentines illustrates the range of tradespeople singled out for hate mail in the Victorian era. Nowadays we despise, Traffic Wardens, Estate Agents, Bankers, Cowboy Builders and Dodgy Plumbers but in the nineteenth century, judging from this collection, Bricklayers, Piemen, Postmen, Drunken Policemen and Cobblers were singled out for vitriol.
Bricklayer
Wood Carver
Drayman
Mason
Pieman
Tax Collector
Sailor
Bricklayer
Trunk Maker
Tailor
Omnibus Conductor
Peddler
Postman
Plumber
Soldier
Policeman
Pieman
Policeman
Cobbler
Railway Porter
House Painter
Haberdasher
Basket Maker
Baker
Housemaid
Guardsman
Chambermaid
Postman
Milliner
Carpenter
Cobbler
Images copyright © Mike Henbrey Collection
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The images in the collection of Mike Henbrey are historically significant .
Why is the working class seen to be sub – human and the butt of derision ?
The satirical drawings of Daumier and Hogarth do not debase workers .
There is a respect for humanity in much of their work .
All of society is in their focus and this is how it should be .
I see no humanity in these illustrations .
The working class of 2015 is being reduced to this awfulness by the Tories and
their masters .
And , yes , I do possess a polished sense of the ridiculous .
Dear Gentle Author,
How I love this BLOG, only one I read!
A question; does any one see something a bit odd in the several black noses shown? Could this be an illusion to syphilis which attacks and destroys the nose? Particularly the trunk maker, that is not a normal nose.
Fun fact. Sailors were not bow legged nor did they splay their legs for balance. According to THE FLOATING BROTHEL by Sian Rees, sailors walked with legs akimbo because their breeches, washed in sea water, irritated their inner thighs. Therefore a rainy day was also a blessed wash day.
Many thanks for the marvelous and inspiring info on Spitalfields
Peggy