Description

[004483] [Dinner Ticket] Westminster Lying-In-Hospital. Anniversary Dinner at the Thatched House Tavern, St. James’s Street, Friday 9th June 1809, at 5 o’Clock. ill. Silvester, Richard William. London: No Publisher, 1809. First Edition. 8vo. Unbound. Ticket. Good. Engraved dinner ticket, approximately 120mm x 205mm in size

Light spots of foxing, very minor surface soiling, but fairly bright

Presumably a charity dinner in aid of the hospital, with an attractive engraved vignette by Silvester (Silvester, Richard William, c.1771-1842, an “important trade and seal engraver”, see Alexander, A Biographical Dictionary of British and Irish Engravers 1714-1820, pages 828-829)

The hospital was one of the first maternity hospital in Britain, opening in 1767 (lying-in being an archaic term for childbirth)