Ye Butcher, Ye Baker, Ye Candlestick-Maker (1908)

Although at first glance this little book could be mistaken for an eighteenth-century English chapbook, it was in fact published in New York in 1908 as a parody. It contains ballad-like poems on a range of olde professions, each one taking an amusing turn in its final few lines to consider the trade in the modern world — and in the process often taking a swipe at a whole host of contemporary "ills", including increased regulations, trade unions, and fake news in the media. Here's an example from "Ye Pirate" which lands close to our territory at the Public Domain Review:

“Ye pirate now stays safe ashore,

And authors rate him when

He robs ye good ship ‘Copyright'

Of thoughts of brighter men.”

Robert Seaver illustrated each poem with woodcuts, also in chapbook-style, and could possibly have conceived of the book because of the success of The Diverting History of John Gilpin which he had illustrated two years previously.

Enjoyed this piece? We need your help to keep publishing.

The PDR is a non-profit project kept alive by reader donations – no ads, no paywalls, just the generosity of our community. It’s a really exciting model, but we need your help to keep it thriving. Visit our support page to become a Friend and receive our themed postcard packs. Or give a one-off donation. Already a supporter? A huge thank you for making all this possible.

Support PDR
RightsUnderlying Work RightsPD Worldwide
Digital Copy Rights

Unclear

DownloadDownloadPDF