The First Morning of the Early Delivery.

Anon

The First Morning of the Early Delivery.

London, Dec 8^th 1834

Lithograph

310 x 395 mm

Trimmed close to lined border.

£380

A very rare satire relating to early days of the Postal service Morning Delivery

A London street scene in the early morning.

On the extreme left a ragged Postman with a peg leg, carrying a parcel, knocks at the door of a house. From the upstairs window a man empties a bucket of water down towards him, saying I say Two Penny here’s an early delivery for you, which you shall have every morning you wake me up at 6 o’clock as I was only married yesterday. To the left of the man at the window, two cats on the roof are facing each other, one says I say Titta-mitta –Mow-wow– these Postmen disturb us so in the night, that I shall report them to the Head Quarters.  A face on the gas lamp, just below the man at the window comments I say Brother Post these Postmen say as how we must Flare Up rather stronger, or they can’t read their Directions. At the foot of the lamp post a tired Postman sits against the post with his letters between his knees, complaining  I’ve knocked at 20 Doors, and can’t get any one up, so I shall go to sleep for a couple of hours. Beside him laying on the cobbles is a forlorn postman, who has broken his last wooden leg, letters, and a broken peg lay before him, he holds on to his crutch saying  Well now I think the Public will be satisfied when they find this is the second time I’ve walked my legs off delivering Letters.  In the centre of the design, between two street corners an accident has happened when a man delivering fish on his cart, has his horse stumble before him, unseating a man he has given a ride to. Fish scatter to the ground, and the unseated passenger says  Here’s a precious go- the fellow calls this giving me a lift. Behind this group a Postal deliverer on a horse is riding away from us, towards the Workhouse in the background. A dog runs along by his side, and to the left a man runs after him, breeches in hand, saying Well I’m blessed if I’m not in it this morning, not even time to put on my breeches—never mind it’s only for Life, as Sculthorpe says. A crescent moon above the Workhouse is smoking a pipe, and looking at a letter in the sky before him comments My Stars here’s an early delivery My Sun only put it into the Post 4 minutes ago. A lamp post on the right side of the design has replied to his companion on the other side, relpying Don’t trouble yourself Smokey as I’m in a flaming bad humour. To be put out, so they’ll stand in their own light if they have any nonsense with me. A man in coat and top hat is hurrying along the road beside the lamp post  muttering Now I think of it this is not my morning at the Office.

Another postman knocking at the door of the house on the right corner has just been apprehended by a policeman and a night watchman. The policeman says  I’ll lock you up in the Station house for a couple of hours, then it will be time enough to deliver your Letters The Postman, clutching a pile of letters in his right hand, replies But what am I to write on the Letters !  Says the watchman  Why, refused in consequence of being offered at such an unseasonable hour !. In the rooms above , the windows are open, on the left, a group of a man and his two sons in their night gowns and caps are looking out, the man with a shot gun in his hands, saying That’s right seize the fellow for coming here at this time of the morning, frightening my wife and family.. His wife is at the second window, arms outstretched, mouth wide open,  crying out  Fire ! Murder ! Thieves ! Someone’s breaking in – Help ! Help !–