Shop ticket or token, London, 1780-1789
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1780-1789
Shop ticket or token in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number B.77-1996), made in London, dated 1780-1789, attributed to unknown. The museum's brief description reads: shop token or ticket, english; 1780s. Museum description: The obserse side show the interior of a toy shop with a counter and squared shelving. To the left is a door and more shelving which appears to form a window. It is possible that the squared shelving is actually a window display. In front of the counter stand a woman and a boy and girl; behind the counter stands another woman. Each square of the shelving shows all or part of an object. The most recognisable are doll figures and horses. The top area is patterned as a plaster ceiling and the bottom a wooden floor. Below the image is 'KIRK'. The reverse side is marked with details of the shop. The museum records it as Struck brass, measuring Width 3.1 cm; Thickness 2 mm. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Also known as 'tickets', brass discs of this type were issued by shops as advertising tokens and as redeemable tokens for stock. In common with the practice at the time, James Kirk used the initial I rather than J on the token. He was a seller and not a maker of toys, however, he was also listed as an engraver and a seal engraver. The best guide to the London merchants at this date is the Kent Directory, and James Kirk is not listed in any volumes between 1780 and 1800. The merchant had to pay to be included and this may be the reason he does not appear. Kirk is not listed as being a member of any of the city Liveries: 1. (first record available) Bailey's British Directory of Merchants & Traders's Useful Companion, 1784, 1st Edition JAMES KIRK TOY WAREHOUSE No. 52 St. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD 2. The London Directory, 1788 (Kirk is not listed in the 1790 edition) JAMES KIRK ENGRAVER 52 St. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD 3. The Universal British Directory, 1790, 1791, 1793 (but not listed after) JAMES KIRK SEAL ENGRAVER AND TOYMAN No. 52 St. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD. There is a listing for a will of a James Kirk, May 1791 which may be or may not be connected. Often people died and it was sometime before the listings changed or were removed. Also there may be listings in Land Tax books and Rates books. At the time of these records, no listing against addresses were made except in the Land Tax and Rates and usually only for the owner and not for tenants. Both the will and the tax records will need to…
Physical characteristics
- Material
- brass
- Dimensions
- Width 3.1 cm; Thickness 2 mm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Struck brass
- Maker recorded
- unknown
- Place recorded
- London
Design
- Inscriptions recorded
- obverse - 'KIRK' reverse - 'DUTCH AND ENGLISH TOYS, FANS, &c. / SOLD BY I KIRK IN St PAUL'S CHURCH YARD'
Identification
- Museum object name
- Shop ticket or token
- Museum object number
- B.77-1996
- Museum system number
- O37080
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and catalogue references against a specialist reference.