Ephemeral Print Culture in Early Modern England: Sociability, Politics and Collecting

The book explores the formation of cheap print collections in late seventeenth-century England, analyzing the social, political, and intellectual factors that drove this urge to preserve ephemera. It focuses on the collection of John Bagford, a shoemaker who became a dealer of prints and other curiosities to important collectors, revealing his position at the center of commercial and intellectual networks. The collection provides a fascinating study of print culture in the early modern period, encompassing partisan political culture, the New Science, virtuoso culture, the aural and visual landscape of marketplaces, streets, and alehouses, and developing practices of record-keeping, life-writing, and historical writing.

Format: Hardback
Length: 324 pages
Publication date: 01 October 2021
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

In the vibrant tapestry of late seventeenth-century print culture, a fascinating phenomenon emerged: the creation of collections of ephemera, a testament to the reading habits, publishing strategies, and thought processes of this era. These cheap genres of print, including ballads, almanacs, and playing cards, were once ubiquitous and disposable, woven into the very fabric of everyday life. Yet, as the century drew to a close, a peculiar urge swept over individuals to preserve, arrange, and display these ephemeral artifacts within carefully curated collections.

What fueled this sudden desire to safeguard the transient? This captivating book delves into the intricate social, political, and intellectual factors that shaped the formation of these cheap print collections. It explores how their owners utilized these collections, shedding light on the profound impact they had on their lives and the broader tapestry of print culture during the early modern period.

At the heart of this narrative is John Bagford (1650-1715), a shoemaker who transformed into a dealer of prints and other curiosities, catering to the discerning tastes of prominent collectors like Samuel Pepys, Hans Sloane, and Robert Harley. Bagford's own remarkable collection, rich and largely unexplored, stands as a captivating study in its own right. His pivotal position within commercial and intellectual networks opens up a vast realm of collecting, encompassing a myriad of interconnected aspects of late Stuart partisan political culture, the emergence of the New Science and virtuoso culture, the vibrant aural and visual landscape of marketplaces, streets, and alehouses, and the evolving practices of record-keeping, life-writing, and historical writing that flourished throughout the long eighteenth century.

Through meticulous research and analysis, this book uncovers the profound significance of these collections in shaping our understanding of late Stuart print culture. It offers a window into the lives of ordinary individuals who, through their passion for collecting, contributed to the preservation and dissemination of knowledge, ideas, and cultural heritage. By exploring the social, political, and intellectual factors that drove the formation of cheap print collections, this book provides valuable insights into the complex web of print culture that flourished in the early modern era.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783275496