Fishmongers Pageant 1616 Henry Shaw Lithograph Lemon Tree Pelican Five Senses

Hand-coloured lithograph by Henry Shaw from The Fishmongers' Pageant on Lord Mayor's Day, 1616: Chrysanaleia, the Golden Fishing, published for the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers (first edition 1844, second edition 1859) and printed by Standidge & Co. Shaw's plates reproduce the contemporary coloured drawings of the pageant devices for Anthony Munday's Lord Mayor's Show for Sir John Leman, drawings still held by the Company.

This plate shows the Lemon Tree, a pun on the new Lord Mayor's name: a pelican feeding her young with her own blood at the foot of the tree, with five ladies representing the Five Senses seated around it, the whole on a woven base above a sea with fish. At top left is a facsimile of the original manuscript note in secretary hand, which reads in part 'at the foote of the tree sitt five children resembling the five senses'. Lettered 'Printed by Standidge & Co' at lower right.

Condition: a crease and crack running up from the lower edge into the base, with a little colour run; small chips and a short tear to the sheet edges; even toning. Unframed sheet, approx. 52.9 x 37.6 cm.

Please view all photos, which form part of the description. Carefully packed and posted from the UK. International buyers welcome.