This broadsides was printed by James Catnach who took on his father’s, John Catnach’s, printing and publishing business; he was an influential publisher of chapbooks in the Seven Dials district of London. James Catnach was declared bankrupt in 1801 and the sale of his assets began, it included the auctioning of 1200 books at Alnwick Town Hall on 2 March 1802. The sale of John Catnach’s assets:

J. Catnach Sale of Assets

In 1807, James was then able to the rebuild the business however, due to his way of running the business and unfortunate drinking habits it resulted him in getting in to debt. He then became bankrupt, which resulted in him being sent to debtors prison. In 1813 James was now supporting his family and also his mother which worked as a motivational force for him to succeed. He started the business using solely his fathers wooden printing press and was able to build an extremely strong and profitable business.

Catnach Logo

This broadside was published in 1824, after all of these events had occurred, this time was the peak of Catnach publishers career. It is important to consider that James had also been a convict after publishing that a local butchers intended to sell human amongst pork. Most of James’ work, other than broadsides, such as ballad poetry,pennies, and penny awfuls were more popular amongst the underclass.

The Sentences, and Sorrowful Lamentation of a Young Women, Aged Nineteen. Harvard Law School Library. http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HLS.Libr:1087985 . Accessed 14 November 2014.

James Catnach, Ballad-monger, Part 1. Bear Alley Books. July 07, 2009. Accessed 14 November 2014.

Glimpses into the 19th Century Broadside Ballad Trade. No. 4: More Merry ballad-making. Accessed 14 November 2014.