Tech: Broadsides from Scotland

Subject: Tech: Broadsides from Scotland
From: fretless
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 09:14 AM

From this morning's Scout Report. I intended this to be characterized as "Folklore" but "Tech" popped up instead, which I suppose is not unreasonable for a digitized archive. In any case, typing "ballads" into the search engine yielded 909 results.
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The Word on the Street: Broadside at the National Library of Scotland http://www.nls.uk/broadsides/

How did the people of Scotland find out about the everyday occurrences of life three hundred years ago? Well, the most likely answer would be broadsides, of course. From the 17th century to their demise near the end of the 19th century, broadsides were pinned up all over various public and quasi-public places for the general public, and gave vivid descriptions of various criminal acts, updates on royalty, and other subjects. Fortunately for contemporary users of the internet, the National Library of Scotland has digitized close to 1,800 of these documents and placed them online here. First-time visitors to the site will want to read the short background pieces that address how the broadsides were created, illustrated, and distributed throughout places like Edinburgh and Falkirk. Visitors can search the entire broadside collection, browse by individual title, or by subject, which include such topical divisions as ballads, religion, riots, and freemasonry. Engaging and entertaining, this site is definitely worth several visits.

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadsides from Scotland
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 01:17 PM

See also the links in New site of broadside sheets (Glasgow) for some others.

Mick

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadsides from Scotland
From: Amos
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 01:32 PM

and do not fail to read the particulars of the WIFE SOLD AT AUCTION in July 1828, and the great roar and ruction caused thereby!

Wonderful story, fit for a Song Challeege.

A

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadsides from Scotland
From: Emma B
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 01:32 PM

Not Scotland but I've recently bought the book of Thomas Ford's Ballad collection from the 1830's (published Llanerch press)         "- an intriguing, and possibly unique, glimpse into the songs that the people of Chesterfield were buying and singing at that time. Thomas Ford worked in Chesterfield as a printer bookseller and stationer. Ford's stock book contains a total of 167 sheets, most of them bearing an identifying number. The ballads are particularly valuable because they are the near complete stock of a particular printer, and because few of them appear to have been preserved elsewhere."

I just like the book as a microcosm of social history and ghastly woodcuts!

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadsides from Scotland
From: Celtaddict
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 04:54 PM

What a bunch of treasures! Thanks, all, for all the leads.

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadsides from Scotland
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 05:44 PM

I checked Llanerch Press and couldn't find Ford listed. Any more information? A book of Broadside Ballads by Collier, and a number of other fine reprints, but not Ford's.

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadsides from Scotland
From: Emma B
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 07:09 PM

ISBN 1 86143 115 5 Thomas Ford's Ballads

I only bought the book at the end of April Q so it should still be in the current catalogue.

The two volumes of "Later English Broadside Ballads" edtd by John Holloway and Joan Black are a really good reference source too but I'm pretty certain they are out of date, I was lucky to pick a set up second hand for a fiver.

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadsides from Scotland
From: Maryrrf
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 07:15 PM

Could this have anything to do with the song "In Praise of John Magee" found on the Boys of the Lough album that came out in '73 about this same subject?

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadsides from Scotland
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 08:00 PM

As Q notes the current listing on Llanerch's site does not list the book, but the Traditional Song Forum meeting of The Traditional Song Forum Meeting of May 2001 has the following entry:

"Llanerch press is, sadly, ceasing trading. They are clearing their stocks and some of their books are on offer at attractive prices. Their last publication is Roy Palmer's collection 'Thomas Ford's Ballads' (A Collection of sheets published by Thomas Ford of Chesterfield in the 1830s). Roy has a few copies of this book for sale."

Quite what this means about Llanerch is unclear, but it does suggest you might get a copy of the book from Roy Palmer.

Mick

Subject: RE: Tech: Broadsides from Scotland
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 08:34 PM

Long out of date. After various problems consequent upon death and probate (so far as I recall) Llanerch resumed trading under new(ish) ownership. Their website is at

http://www.llanerchpress.com/

Mind you, I can't find any reference there to Roy Palmer's Ford collection; though it was certainly listed in the last mailshot I had from them. They aren't the best organised people in the world, however. Emma: did you buy directly from them?

A fiver for both volumes of Holloway & Black was good going; I'm quite envious.