TEI | London Labour and the London Poor, Volume 1 | ID: 73666f96f

London Labour and the London Poor, Volume 1

Mayhew, Henry

1861

Of the Street Booksellers.


	THE course of my inquiry now leads me to consider of the oldest, and certainly not least important of the street traffics—that of the book-stalls. Of these there are now about in the London streets, but in this number I include only those which are street-stalls. Many book-stalls, as in such a locality as the London-road, are appendages to shops, being merely a display of wares outside the bookseller's premises; and with these I do not now intend to deal.
	The men in this trade I found generally to be intelligent. They have been, for the most part, engaged in some minor department of the bookselling or newspaper trade, in the regular way, and are unconnected with the street-sellers in other lines, of whose pursuits, habits, and characters, they seem to know nothing.
	The street book-stalls are most frequent in the thoroughfares which are well-frequented, but which, as man in the trade expressed himself, are not so "shoppy" as others—such as the City-road, the New-road, and the Old Kent-road. "If there's what you might call a recess," observed another street bookstall- keeper, " the place for us; and you'll often see us along with flower-stands and pinners-up." The stalls themselves do not present any very smart appearance; they are usually of plain deal. If the stock of books be sufficiently ample, they are disposed on the surface of the stall, "fronts up," as I heard it described, with the titles, when lettered on the back, like as they are presented in a library. If the "front" be unlettered, as is often the case with the older books, a piece of paper is attached, and on it is inscribed the title and the price. Sometimes the description is exceeding curt, as, "Poetry," "French," "Religious," "Latin" (I saw an odd volume, in Spanish, of Don Quixote, marked "Latin," but it was at a shop-seller's stall,) "Pamphlets," and such like; or where it seems to have been thought necessary to give a somewhat fuller appellation, such titles are written out as "Locke's Understanding," "Watts's Mind," or "Pope's Rape." If the stock be rather scant, the side of the book is then shown, and is either covered with white paper, on which the title and price are written, or "brushed," or else a piece of paper is attached, with the necessary announcement.
	Sometimes these announcements are striking enough, as where a number of works of the same size have been bound together (which used to be the case, I am told, more frequently than it is now); or where there has been a series of stories in volume. such announcement was, "Smollett's Peregrine Pickle Captain Kyd Pirate Prairie Rob of the Bowl Bamfyeld Moore Carew " Alongside this miscellaneous volume was, "Wilberforce's Practical View of Christianity, ;" "Fenelon's Aventures de Télémaque, plates, ;" "Arres, de Predestinatione, " (the last-mentioned work, which, at the glance, seems as if it were an odd mixture of French and Latin, was a Latin quarto); "Coronis ad Collationem Hagiensem, &c. &c., Gulielmo Amesio." Another work, on another stall, had the following description: "Lord Mount Edgecumbe's Opera What is Currency Watts's Scripture History Thoughts on Taxation only " Another was, "Knickerbocker Bacon " As a rule, however, the correctness with which the work is described is rather remarkable.
	At some few of the street-stalls, and at many of the shop-stalls, are boxes, containing works marked, "All ," or , , or Among these are old Court-Guides, Parliamentary Companions, Railway Plans, and a variety of sermons, and theological, as well as educational and political pamphlets. To show the character of the publications thus offered—not, perhaps, as a rule, but generally enough, for sale— I copied down the titles of some at and
	All these at 1d.—'Letters to the Right Honourable Lord John Russell, on State Education, by Edward Baines, jun.;' 'A Pastoral Letter to the Clergy and Members of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America;' 'A Letter to the Protestant Dissenters of England and Wales, by the Rev. Robert Ainslie;' 'Friendly Advice to Conservatives;' 'Elementary Thoughts on the Principles of Currency and Wealth, and on the Means of Diminishing the Burthens of the People, by J. D. Basset, Esq., price 2s. 6d.'" The others were each published at 1s. All these at 2d.—'Poems, by Eleanor Tatlock, 1811, 2 vols., 9s.;' 'Two Sermons, on the Fall and Final Restoration of the Jews, by the Rev. John Stuart;' 'Thoughts and Feelings, by Arthur Brooke, 1820;' 'The Amours of Philander and Sylvia, being the third and last part of Love-letters between a Nobleman and his Sister. Volume the Second. The Seventh Edition. London.'
	From a cursory examination of the lastmen- tioned twopenny volume, I could see nothing of the nobleman or his sister. It is of an inane class of books, originated, I believe, in the latter part of the reign of Charles II. Such publications professed to be (and some few were) records of the court and city scandal of the day, but in general they were works founded on the reputation of the current scandal. In short, to adopt the language of patterers, they were "cocks" issued by the publishers of that period; and
293	they continued to be published until the middle of the eighteenth century, or a little later. I notice this description of literature the more, particularly as it is still frequently to be met with in street-sale. "There's oft enough," street-bookseller said to me, "works of that sort making up a 'lot' at a sale, and in very respectable rooms. As if they were make-weights, or to make up a sufficient number of books, and so they keep their hold in the streets."
	As many of my readers may have little, if any, knowledge of this class of street-sold works, I cite a portion of the "epistle dedicatory," and a specimen of the style, of "Philander and Sylvia," to show the change in street, as well as in general literature, as no such works are now published:
	To the Lord Spencer, My Lord, when a new book comes into the world, the first thing we consider is the dedication; and according to the quality and humour of the patron, we are apt to make a judgment of the following subject. If to a statesman we believe it grave and politic; if to a gownman, law or divinity; if to the young and gay, love and gallantry. By this rule, I believe the gentle reader, who finds your lordship's name prefixed before this, will make as many various opinions of it, as they do characters of your lordship, whose youthful sallies have been the business of so much discourse; and which, according to the relator's sense or good nature, is either aggravated or excused; though the woman's quarrel to your lordship has some more reasonable foundation, than that of your own sex; for your lordship being formed with all the beauties and graces of mankind, all the charms of wit, youth, and sweetness of disposition (derived to you from an illustrious race of heroes) adapting you to the noblest love and softness, they cannot but complain on that mistaken conduct of yours, that so lavishly deals out those agreeable attractions, squandering away that youth and time on many, which might be more advantageously dedicated to some one of the fair; and by a liberty (which they call not being discreet enough) rob them of all the hopes of conquest over that heart which they believe can fix no where; they cannot caress you into ameness; or if you sometimes appear so, they are still upon their guard with you; for like a young lion you are ever apt to leap into your natural wildness; the greatness of your soul disdaining to be confined to lazy repose; though the delicacy of your person and constitution so absolutely require it; your lordship not being made for diversions so rough and fatiguing, as those your active mind would impose upon it.
	The last sentence is very long, so that a shorter extract may serve as a specimen of the staple of this book-making:
	To Philander,—False and perjured as you are, I languish for a sight of you, and conjure you to give it me as soon as this comes to your hands. Imagine not that I have prepared those instruments of revenge that are so justly due to your perfidy; but rather, that I have yet too tender sentiments for you, in spite of the outrage you have done my heart; and that for all the ruin you have made, I still adore you: and though I know you are now another's slave, yet I beg you would vouchsafe to behold the spoils you have made, and allow me this recompense for all, to say—Here was the beauty I once esteemed, though now she is no more Philander's Sylvia.
	Having thus described what may be considered the divisional parts of this stall trade, I proceed to the more general character of the class of books sold.

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Edwin C. Bolles papers

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1861

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	Title Page
	PREFACE
	The Street-Folk: Of Wandering Tribes in General
	Of the Wandering Tribes of this Country
	Of the London Street-Folk
	Of the Number of Costermongers and Other Street-Folk Of the Number of Costermongers and Other Street-Folk Of the Varieties of Street-Folk in General, and Costermongers in Particular Of Costermongering Mechanics Ancient Calling of Costermongers Of the Obsolete Cries of the Costermongers Of the Costermongers 'Economically' Considered The London Street Markets on a Saturday Night The Sunday Morning Markets Habits and amusements of Costermongers Gambling of Costermongers 'Vic Gallery' The Politics of Costermongers.-- Policemen Marriage and Concubinage of Costermongers Religion of Costermongers Of the Uneducated State of Costermongers Language of Costermongers Of the Nicknames of Costermongers Of the Education of Costermongers' Children The Literature of Costermongers Of the Honesty of Costermongers Of the Conveyances of the Costermongers and Other Street-Sellers Of the 'Smithfield Races' Of the Donkeys of the Costermongers Of the Costermongers' Capital Of the 'Slang' Weights and Measures Of Half Profits Of the Boys of the Costermongers, and their Bunts Of the Juvenile Trading of the Costermongers Of the Education of the 'Coster-Lads' The Life of a Coster-Lad Of the 'Penny Gaff' Of the Coster-Girls The Life of a Coster Girl Of Costermongers and Thieves Of the More Provident Costermongers Of the Homes of the Costermongers Of the Dress of the Costermongers Once Try You'll Come Again Of the Diet and Drink of Costermongers Of the Cries, Rounds, and Days of Costermongers Of the Costermongers on their Country Rounds Of the Earnings of Costermongers Of the Capital and Income of the Costermongers Of the Providence and Improvidence of Costermongers Of the Costermongers in Bad Weather and During the Cholera Of the Costermongers' Raffles Of the Markets and Trade Rights of the Costerongers, and of the Laws Affecting Them Of the Removals of Costermongers From the Streets Of the Tricks of Costermongers
	Of the Street-Sellers of Fish Of the Street-Sellers of Fish Of the Costermongers' Fish Season Billingsgate Of the Forestalling of Markets and the Billingsgate Of 'Wet' Fish-Sellers in the Streets
	Of Sprat-Selling in the Streets Of Sprat-Selling in the Streets Of Shell-Fish Sellers in the Streets Of Shrimp Selling in the Streets Of Oyster Selling in the Streets Of Periwinkle Selling in the Streets Of 'Dry' Fish Selling in the Streets Gross Value of the Several Kinds of Fish Annually Sold in the Streets of London
	Of the Street-Sellers of Fruit and Vegetables Of the Kinds and Quantity of Fruit and Vegetables Sold in the Streets Of the Fruit and Vegetable Season of the Costermongers Of Covent Garden Market Of 'Green' Fruit Selling in the Streets Of the Orange and Nut Market Of Orange and Lemon Selling in the Streets Of Nut Selling in the Streets Of Roasted Chestnuts and Apples Of 'Dry' Fruit Selling in the Streets Of the Street-Sale of Vegetables Of the 'Aristocratic' Vegetable-Sale Of Onion Selling in the Streets Of Pot-Herbs and Celery Gross Value of the Fruit and Vegetables Sold annually in the London Streets
	Of the Stationary Street-Sellers of Fish, Fruit, and Vegetables Of the Number of Street Stalls Of the Character of the Street-Stalls Of Fruit-Stall Keepers Of a Public Meeting of Street-Sellers
	Of the Street-Irish Of the Street-Irish Of the Causes Which Have Made the Irish Turn Costermongers How the Street-Irish Displanted the Street-Jews in the Orange Trade Of the Religion of the Street-Irish Of the Education, Literature, Amusements, and Politics of the Street-Irish The Homes of the Street-Irish Irish Lodging-Houses For Immigrants Of the Diet, Drink, and Expense of Living of the Street-Irish Of the Resources of the Street-Irish as Regards 'Stock-Money,' Sickness, Burials, &c. Of the History of Some Irish Street-Sellers Of the Irish 'Refuse'--Sellers
	Of the Street-Sellers of Game, Poultry (Live and Dead), Rabbits, Butter, Cheese, and Eggs Of the Street-Sellers of Game, &c. Of the Quantity of Game, Rabbits, and Poultry, Sold in the Streets Of the Street-Purchasers of Game and Poultry Of the Experience of a Game Hawker Statement of Two Poultry Hawkers Of the Street Sale of Live Poultry Of Rabbit Selling in the Streets Of the Street Sale of Butter, Cheese, and Eggs
	Of the Sellers of Trees, Shrubs, Flowers (Cut and In Pots), Roots, Seeds, and Branches Of the Sellers of Trees, &c. Of the Quantity of Shrubs, 'Roots,' Flowers, Etc., Sold in the Streets, and of the Buyers Of the Street Sale of Trees and Shrubs The London Flower Girls Of Two Orphan Flower Girls Of the Life of a Flower Girl Of the Street Sale of Lavender Cut Flowers Of the Street Sale of Flowers in Pots, Roots, Etc. Of the Street Sale of Seeds Of Christmasing-- Laurel, Ivy, Holly, and Mistletoe Of the Sale of May, Palm, Etc
	Street-Sellers of Green Stuff Street-Sellers of Green Stuff Of Watercress-Selling, in Farringdon Market Of the Street-Sellers of Water-Cress Watercress Girl Of Groundsel and Chickweed Sellers Of Turf Cutting and Selling Of the Experience and Customers of A Turf-Cutter Of Plantain-Sellers
	Of the Street-Sellers of Eatables and Drinkables Of the Street-Sellers of Eatables and Drinkables Of the Street-Sellers of Pea-Soup and Hot Eels Of the Experience of a Hot-Eel and Pea-Soup Man Of the Street-Sellers of Pickled Whelks Of the Customers, Etc., of Pickled Whelk-Sellers Of the Street Sellers, and of the Preparation of Fried Fish Of the Experience of a Fried Fish- Seller, and of the Class of Customers Of the Preparation and Quantity of Sheep's Trotters, and of the Street-Sellers Statements of Sheep's Trotter Women Of the Street Trade in Baked Potatoes Of 'Trotting,' or 'Hawking' Butchers Of the Experience of a Hawking Butcher Of the Street-Sellers of Ham-Sandwiches Of the Experience of a Ham Sandwich- Seller Of the Street-Sellers of Bread Of the Street-Sellers of Hot Green Peas Of the Experience of a Hot Green Pea Seller Of Cats' and Dogs'--Meat Dealers Of the Street-Sale of Drinkables Of Coffee-Stall Keepers Of the Street Sale of Ginger-Beer, Sherbet, Lemonade, &c Of the Experience and Customers of A Ginger-Beer Seller Of the Street-Sellers of Hot Elder Wine Of the Street Sale of Peppermint-Water Of Milk Selling in St. James's Park Of the Street Sale of Milk Of the Street-Sale of Curds and Whey Of the Street-Sellers of Rice-Milk Of Water-Carriers Of the Street-Sellers of Pastry and Confectionary Of Street Piemen Of the Street-Sellers of Boiled Puddings Of the Street-Sellers of Plum 'Duff' or Dough Of the Street-Sellers of Cakes, Tarts, &c. Of Other Cake-Sellers in the Streets Of the Street-Sellers of Gingerbread- Nuts, &c. Of the Street-Sellers of Hot-Cross Buns, and of Chelsea Buns Of Muffin and Crumpet-Selling in the Streets Of the Street Sale of Sweet-Stuff Of the Customers of the Sweet-Stuff Street-Sellers Of the Street-Sellers of Cough Drops and of Medical Confectionary 'Lohoch de farfara,' the Lohoch of Coltsfoot Of the Street-Sellers of Ices and of Ice Creams Of the Capital and Income of the Street-Sellers of Eatables and Drinkables Capital, or Stock in Trade, of the Street- Sellers of Eatables and Drinkables Income, or 'Takings,' of Street-Sellers of Eatables and Drinkables
	Of the Street-Sellers of Stationery, Literature, and the Fine Arts Of the Street-Sellers of Stationery, &c. Of the Former and Present Street- Patterers Of the Habits, Opinions, Morals, and Religion of Patterers Generally Of the Publishers and authors of Street-Literature Of Long Song-Sellers Of Running Patterers Experience of a Running Patterer Of the Recent Experience of a Running Patterer Of the Chaunters Of the Experience of a Chaunter Of the Death and Fire Hunters Of the Sellers of Second Editions Of the Standing Patterers Experience of a Standing Patterer Of Political Litanies, Dialogues, etc. Of 'Cocks,' Etc. Of 'Strawing' Of the Sham indecent Street-Trade Of Religious Tract Sellers Of a Benefit Society of Patterers Of the Abodes, Tricks, Marriage, Character, and Characteristics of the Different Grades of Patterers Of the Low Lodging-Houses of London Of the Filth, Dishonesty, and Immorality of Low Lodging-Houses Of the Children in Low Lodging- Houses Of the Low Lodging-Houses Throughout the Country Of the Street Stationers, and the Street Card-Sellers Of the Seller of the Penny Short-Hand Cards The Lecture 'I perish with hunger' Of the Sellers of Race Cards and Lists Of the Street-Sellers of Gelatine, of Engraved, and of Playing Cards, &c. Of the Street-Sellers of Stationery Of the Experience of a Street- Stationer Of a 'Reduced' Gentlewoman, and a 'Reduced' Tradesman, as Street-Sellers of Stationery Of the Street-Sale of Memorandum- Books and Almanacks Of the Street-Sale of Pocket-Books and Diaries Of the Street-Sellers of Songs Of the Street 'Pinners-up,' or Wall Song-Sellers Of Ancient and Modern Street Ballad Minstrelsy Of Street 'Ballads on a Subject' Of the Street Poets and Authors Of the Experience of a Street Author, or Poet Of the Street-Sellers of Broad-Sheets Of the 'Gallows' Literature of the Streets Of the Street-Sellers of Conundrums Of the Street-Sellers of Comic Exhibitions, Magical Delusions, &c. Of the Street-Sellers of Play-Bills Of the Street-Sellers of Periodicals, Pamphlets, Tracts, Books, Etc. Of the Street-Sale of Back Numbers Of the Sale of Waste Newspapers at Billingsgate Of the Sale of Periodicals on the Steam- Boats and Steam-Boat Piers Of the Sale of Newspapers, Books, &c., at the Railway Stations Of the Street Booksellers Of the Character of Books of the Street-Sale Of the Experience of a Street Book- Seller Of Street Book-Auctioneers Of the Street-Sale of Song-Books, and of Children's Books Of the Street-Sellers of Account-Books Of the Street-Sellers of Guide-Books, &c. Of the Street-Sellers of Fine Arts Of Street Art Of the Street-Sellers of Engravings, Etc., in Umbrellas, Etc. Of the Street-Sellers of Pictures in Frames Of the Street-Sellers of Manuscript and Other Music Of the Capital and Income of the Street-Sellers of Stationery, Literature, and the Fine Arts Capital or Value of the Stock-in-Trade of the Street-Sellers of Stationery, Literature and the Fine Arts Income, or Average Annual 'Takings,' of the Street-Sellers of Stationery, Literature, and the Fine Arts An Epitome of the Pattering Class Of the 'Screevers,' or Writers of Begging-Letters and Petitions 'God Save the Queen' Of the Probable Means of Reformation
	Of the Street-Sellers of Manufactured Articles Of the Street-Sellers of Manufactured Articles Of the Street-Sellers of Manufactured Articles in Metal Of the Cheap Johns, or Street Han- Sellers 'The Original Cheap John' The Crippled Street-Seller of Nut- Meg-Graters Of the Swag-Shops of the Metropolis Shopkeepers and Dealers Supplied with the Following Articles -- Of the Life of a Cheap-John The Street-Sellers of Cutlery Of the Blind Street-Sellers of Tailors' Needles, etc. The Public-House Hawkers of Metal Spoons, Etc. Of the Street-Sellers of Jewellery Of the Pedlar-Jewellers Of the Street-Sellers of Card-Counters, Medals, Etc. The Construction is of Iron and of Glass, 1848 Feet Long. about Half is 456 Wide. the Remainder 408 Feet Wide, and 66 Feet High; Site, Upwards of 20 acres. Josh. Paxton, archt. Of the Street-Sellers of Rings and Sovereigns For Wagers Of the Street-Sellers of Children's Gilt Watches Of the Street-Sellers of Tinware Of the Life of a Tin-Ware Seller Of the Street-Sellers of Dog-Collars Of the Life of a Street-Seller of Dog- Collars Of the Street-Sellers of Tools Of the Beggar Street-Sellers Pike's Patent Cotton. 120 Yards 'The Lace-Makers' Appeal' 'ALLEN, Printer, Long-row, Nottingham' Of the 'House of Lords,' a Street-Seller's Defunct Club Of the Street-Sellers of Crockery and Glass-Wares Of the 'Swag,' Crockery, and Glass Shops Of the Street-Sellers of Spar and China Ornaments, and of Stone Fruit Of the Street-Sellers of Textile Fabrics Of the Haberdashery Swag-Shops Of Hawkers, Pedlars, and Petty Chapmen Of the Packmen, or Hawkers of Soft Wares Statement of a Packman Of the Tally Packman Of the 'Duffers' or Hawkers of Pretended Smuggled Goods Of the Street-Sellers of 'Small-Ware,' or Tape, Cotton, Etc. Of the Street-Sellers of Lace Of the Street-Sellers of Japanned Table- Covers Of the Street-Sellers of Braces, Belts, Hose, Trowser-Straps, and Waistcoats Of the Street-Sellers of Boot and Stay- Laces, &c. Of a Blind Female Seller of 'Small-Wares' The Blind Street-Seller of Boot-Laces Of the Life of a Blind Boot-Lace Seller Of the Low Lodging-Houses Statement of a Young Pickpocket Statement of a Prostitute Statement of a Beggar Meeting of Thieves Of the Country Lodging-Houses Of the Street-Sellers of Chemical Articles of Manufacture Of the Street-Sellers of Blacking, Black Lead, Etc. Of the Street-Sellers of French Polish Of the Street-Sellers of Grease-Removing Compositions Of the Street-Sellers of Corn-Salve Of the Street-Sellers of Glass and China Cement, and of Razor Paste Of the Street-Seller of Crackers and Detonating Balls Of the Street-Sellers of Lucifer-Matches Of the Street-Sellers of Cigar Lights, or Fuzees Of the Street-Sellers of Gutta-Percha Heads Of the Street-Sellers of Fly-Papers and Beetle-Wafers Of the Street-Sellers of Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles Of the Street-Sellers of Walking-Sticks Of the Street-Sellers of Whips, Etc. Of the Street-Sellers of Pipes, and of Snuff and Tobacco Boxes Of the Street-Sellers of Cigars Of the Street-Sellers of Sponge Of the Street-Sellers of Wash-Leathers Of the Street-Sellers of Spectacles and Eye-Glasses Of the Street-Sellers of Dolls Of the 'Swag-Barrowmen,' and 'Lot- Sellers' Of the Street-Sellers of Roulette Boxes Of the Street-Sellers of Poison For Rats Of the Street-Sellers of Rhubarb and Spice Of the Hawking of Tea
	Of the Women Street-Sellers Of the Women Street-Sellers Of a Single Woman, as a Street-Seller Of a Mechanic's Wife, as a Street-Seller Of an Irishwoman, as a Street-Seller Of a Widow, a Street-Seller
	Of the Children Street-Sellers of London Of the Children Street-Sellers of London Of Children Sent Out as Street-Sellers by their Parents Of a 'Neglected' Child, a Street-Seller Of a Hired Coster Boy Of an Orphan Boy, a Street-Seller Of the Life of an Orphan Girl, a Street- Seller Of Two Runaway Street-Boys Of the Capital and Income of the Street-Sellers of Manufactured Articles
	Index