The Great Sea Snake (with) The Green Mossy Banks of the Lea.
Manchester, England: Ca. 1840. A seven verse broadside ballad about a giant sea snake "once seen off the Isle of Pitcairn & caught by Admiral Blake" down the left side, with a wood block illustration of a crocodile at the top, mouth opened wide. The other ballad, in the right column, is 'The Green Mossy Banks of the Lea', concerning the beautiful Matilda spied on the banks of the river Lea by an Irish man. Broadside ballads were primarily text, sometimes with illustration, printed on one side, and set to popular tunes. They were sold on the street for a nominal amount and their subject matter focussed on British and Irish identity, love, marriage, religion, politics, fantasy, crime and social reform. In London, the publishers used printers of the Seven Dials area, such as James Catnatch, John Marshall and John Pitts. 6 x 8 1/2", evenly toned, o/w very good. Very good overall. Item #16480
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