Not currently on display at the V&A

Handbill

21 October 1826 (dated)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Handbill advertising the 'Two Astonishing Canary Birds', to be seen at no. 4 Leicester Square, London, dated in ink, 21 October 1826.

According to the handbill, the canaries can 'SPELL, ADD, SUBTRACT, DIVIDE, MULTIPLY, And distinguish Colours, Play at Dominos with any of the Company, and perform many interesting Feats with Cards, Dice, &c. &c.' The writer of the bill assures the readers that 'The Birds are not Automata, assisted by Machinery, But Living Birds, and perform every feat set forth in the Bill, with incredible precision and adroitness. Twenty Thousand Visitors to the exhibition of these Birds, with these last Six Months, will bear witness to the truth of this assertion.' There 'were no cruel means resorted to' in their training, and they are 'well fed and perfectly happy'.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Letterpress with ink annotation
Brief description
Handbill advertising the 'Two Astonishing Canary Birds', to be seen at no. 4 Leicester Square, London, dated in ink, 21 October 1826
Physical description
Printed advertisement for the 'Two Astonishing Canary Birds', to be seen at no. 4 Leicester Square, London, dated in ink, 21 October 1826.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25.9cm
  • Width: 18.6cm
Marks and inscriptions
'21 Oct 1826' (Annotation in ink, upper right hand corner. The handwriting is difficult to read and it is possible that the month may be December, abbreviated to 'Dec'.)
Summary
Handbill advertising the 'Two Astonishing Canary Birds', to be seen at no. 4 Leicester Square, London, dated in ink, 21 October 1826.

According to the handbill, the canaries can 'SPELL, ADD, SUBTRACT, DIVIDE, MULTIPLY, And distinguish Colours, Play at Dominos with any of the Company, and perform many interesting Feats with Cards, Dice, &c. &c.' The writer of the bill assures the readers that 'The Birds are not Automata, assisted by Machinery, But Living Birds, and perform every feat set forth in the Bill, with incredible precision and adroitness. Twenty Thousand Visitors to the exhibition of these Birds, with these last Six Months, will bear witness to the truth of this assertion.' There 'were no cruel means resorted to' in their training, and they are 'well fed and perfectly happy'.
Collection
Accession number
S.1291-1982

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Record createdJune 28, 2012
Record URL
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