The Ladies Travelling Fan, of England and Wales
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1788
This object is an unfinished fan mount featuring a wrap-around map of England and Wales. Executed as an engraving and soft-ground etching on paper with hand colouring, the fan leaf displays roads, rivers, towns, and surrounding geography adapted to the curved format of a fan.
The mount bears a prominent cartouche inscription at the top centre: "The Ladies / TRAVELLING FANN, / of ENGLAND and WALES / Exhibiting all the Principal / Roads, Rivers, Market & Post / Towns, with their distance from / LONDON / Pubd Sepr:13, 1788, by J. Balster", with "The Ladies" lettered in italics. In the lower right, an inscription heads a reference table listing the counties corresponding to numbers on the map: "REFERENCES / to the COUNTIES of ENGLAND and WALES".
Published by T. Balster (also recorded as J. Balster in the inscription), the print was produced in the United Kingdom in 1788. The mounted leaf measures 45 cm in width, with a mounted radius height of 22 cm and a thickness of curve height of 15 cm.
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
England led the way in the eighteenth century in the sale and export of printed souvenir fans. These items reproduced subjects such as commemorative or topical events, games, or useful facts.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Engraving and soft-ground etching on paper, coloured by hand
- Dimensions
- Height (mounted, radius): 22 cm; Height (mounted, thickness of curve): 15 cm; Width (mounted): 45 cm
Technical characteristics
- Inscriptions
- Date: Text: Research required; Latest: Research required; Earliest: Research required; Note: in cartouche top centre; 'The Ladies' in italics; Type: Research required; Medium: Research required; Method: Research required; Script: Research required; Content: The Ladies / TRAVELLING FANN, / of ENGLAND and WALES / Exhibiting all the Principal / Roads, Rivers, Market & Post / Towns, with their distance from / LONDON / Pubd Sepr:13, 1788, by J. Balster; Language: Research required; Position: Research required; Inscriber: Name: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Association: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Description: Research required; Translation: Research required; Interpretation: Research required; Transliteration: Research required Date: Text: Research required; Latest: Research required; Earliest: Research required; Note: bottom right, title of table listing counties as numbered on map, from southwest across and continuing in strips left to right; Type: Research required; Medium: Research required; Method: Research required; Script: Research required; Content: REFERENCES / to the COUNTIES of ENGLAND and WALES; Language: Research required; Position: Research required; Inscriber: Name: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Association: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Description: Research required; Translation: Research required; Interpretation: Research required; Transliteration: Research required
- Maker recorded
- Balster, T.
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection record for this single object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Museum object name
- The Ladies Travelling Fan, of England and Wales
- Museum object number
- E.3187-1938
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.