Characters Gallery

Wartime Toby jugs, WW1

Advertisement for Soane & Smith of Oxford Street, promoting their range of Toby jugs based on wartime leaders, principally Sir David Beatty, Sir Douglas Haig, Lord Jellicoe, Marshal Joffre, Lord French, Prime Minister David Lloyd George, President Woodrow Wilson and Marshal Foch. Last but not least is a special design based on the character Old Bill, portrayed in the hugely popular cartoons by Bruce Bairnsfather in The Bystander magazine. Date: 1918

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Chelsea Follies Revue by Archibald de Bear and R. Arkell

Chelsea Follies Revue devised by Archibald de Bear (1882 - 1959) and Reginald Arkell (1889 - 1962). Presented by R.H. Gillespie with music by Wolseley Charles (1889 - 1962) and Desmond Carter (15 June 1895 3 February 1939). It was first produced at The Victoria Palace Theatre on 17th December 1930. This is a large postcard listing the cast members on the reverse, with Nervo and Knox the stars, (Jimmy Nervo and Teddy Knox were part of the original Crazy Gang). It leaves room for an address but not for a message. The design with various figures seen against a giant painters palette uses Chelseas association with art and artists. The Times thought that the staging was old fashioned and lacked imagination, but that the performance itself was most spirited'. Date: 1930

© The Michael Diamond Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library

Chaucers Canterbury Pilgrims on the road

* NOTE - FULL FILE IS A LONG PANORAMA - Preview split into 3 sections for ease of viewing *
Chaucers Canterbury Pilgrims on the road reproduction of a painting by Stephen Reid (1873-1948) (from left) 1. The Miller 2. The Host 3. The Merchant 4. The Doctor of Physic 5. Chaucer, the Poet 6. The Franklin 7. The Knight 8. The Sergeant of the Law 9. The Manciple, or Steward 10. The Oxford Scholar 11. The Squire 12. The Nun 13. The Prioress 14. The Nuns Priest 15. The Pardoner 16. The Summoner 17. The Poor Parson 18. The Yeoman 19. The Ploughman 20. The Wife of Bath 21. The Carpenter 22. The Haberdasher 23. The Weaver 24. The Dyer 25. The Monk 26. The Friar 27. The Tapicer or Upholsterer 28. The Shipman 29. The Cook 30. The Reeve or Bailiff.
late 14th century

© Mary Evans Picture Library