Chapter I: Front Matter

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: This e-text has been prepared in accordance with the Introduction’s explanation that the papers are presented _verbatim et literatim_, “word for word from copy”; all apparent errors are as printed in the original.

CURIOSITIES OF STREET LITERATURE:

LONG-SONG SELLER.

(_From a Daguerreotype by_ BEARD.)

“Three yards a penny! Three yards a penny! Beautiful songs!
Newest songs! Popular songs! Three yards a penny!
Songs, songs, songs!”

CURIOSITIES OF STREET LITERATURE:

COMPRISING

“COCKS,” OR “CATCHPENNIES,”

A LARGE AND CURIOUS ASSORTMENT OF STREET-DROLLERIES, SQUIBS,
HISTORIES, COMIC TALES IN PROSE AND VERSE,

BROADSIDES ON THE ROYAL FAMILY,

POLITICAL LITANIES, DIALOGUES, CATECHISMS, ACTS OF PARLIAMENT,
STREET POLITICAL PAPERS,

A VARIETY OF “BALLADS ON A SUBJECT,”

DYING SPEECHES AND CONFESSIONS.

TO WHICH IS ATTACHED THE ALL-IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY

AFFECTIONATE COPY OF VERSES,

AS

“Come, all you feeling-hearted Christians, wherever you may be,
Attention give to these few lines, and listen unto me;
It’s of this cruel murder, to you I will unfold,
The bare recital of the same will make your blood run cold.”

“What hast here? ballads? I love a ballad in print, or a life;
for then we are sure they are true.”--SHAKESPEARE.

“There’s nothing beats a stunning good murder, after
all.”--EXPERIENCE OF A RUNNING PATTERER.

LONDON:
REEVES AND TURNER,
196, STRAND.
1871.

NOTICE.

The “Execution Paper” of John Gregson, for the Murder of his Wife, at Liverpool--page 235 of CONTENTS--is CANCELLED, and Eight Pages, “THE HEROES OF THE GUILLOTINE,” supplied instead.

196, STRAND, _December 30th, 1870_.

CURIOSITIES

OF

STREET LITERATURE.

ONLY
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY
COPIES PRINTED.]

Purchased _by_ ______________________________________
_Of_ ____________________________________________
_On the_ __________ _day of_ ______________ 187

GUARANTEED ONLY FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SIX COPIES PRINTED,

NAMELY,--

£ s. d.
250 on Fine Toned Demy 4to Published at 1 1 0
100 on Large Post 4to, printed on one side of the paper only ” 1 5 0
100 on Fine French Linear Writing Paper, printed on one side
only, and in imitation of the Catnachian tea-like paper of old ” 1 11 6
6 on Yellow Demy 4to paper ” 2 2 0
----
456

EACH COPY OF EACH EDITION NUMBERED.