The Bunter's Wedding

A POVERTY-STRICKEN WEDDING

Single Sheet (Approx 350 x 225mm)., two small woodcut illustrations, four columns of text. Chipped at the edges (one corner missing a small portion of text) and neatly folded down the centre, imprint cut away at the lower right-hand corner.

 

[London: by J. Pitts, Great St, Andrew Street, Seven Dials, 

ESTC records four undated (supposedly) 18th-century printings of this slip song which all survive in a single copy. The printer, John Pitts, was active trading between 1802-1844 working as a printer stationer and print seller but also selling toys (see the British Book Trade Index.

 

"Goo [sic] people atted, I'll discover

a wedding that happened of late,

I cannot tell why we should smother

The weddings of poor more than great

Twixt Ben of the Borough so pretty

Who carries a basket 'tis said.

And daint plump Kent-street fair Kitty

A coney wool cutter by trade"

 

Johnson's Dictionary defines "bunter" as "A cant word for a woman who picks up rags about the street; and used by way of contempt, for any low vulgar woman". In this entertaining slip song Kitty, the "bunter" in question, is married to Ben in front of a wedding party comprised of "Levi the Jew", "Fanny the pretty matchmaker", "Nan the tub-woman out of Whitechapel" and "squinting black Molly". 

 

One of the most notable aspects of the song is the celebration of food and drink - which would no doubt have been scarce on any other normal day. The guests enjoy "plenty of porter and gin" and "ox cheek" for dinner.

 

When the wedding party pass through Borough market they are greeted by, "With their marrow bones and cleavers, the butchers they run 'em a peal".

Stock Code: 246641