1787 caricature of prostitutes, giving an idea of their clothing and attire. (When in public, they were more often decked out in faded finery worn in an inappropriate context, rather than in clothing that would seem particularly revealing or "sexy" in 21st-century eyes...) Note the fire insurance company badge mounted on the building; at that time, each fire insurance company had an associated firefighting unit, which would usually only put out fires at establishments of paying customers...

Bibliographic information found on LoC site:

TITLE: Retail traders not affected by the shop tax

CALL NUMBER: PC 3 - 1787--Retail traders ... (A size) [P&P]

REPRODUCTION NUMBER: LC-USZ62-132976 (b&w film copy neg.) No known restrictions on publication.

SUMMARY: Print shows three women standing inside the entrance to an establishment labeled "Neat lodgings for men" over which is a bust of a Turk's Head on a pedestal labeled "Bagnio"; a notice in the window states "For the benefit of the Dowager Eve, this & every evening by permission of their Worships, such things are."

MEDIUM: 1 print : etching ; 27.4 x 20 cm. (plate)

CREATED/PUBLISHED: [London] : Pub'd ... for the proprietor by E. Macklew, No. 9 Haymarket & W. Moore, No. 48 New Bond Street, 1787 March 2nd.

NOTES: Title from item. Watermark on center of paper. DLC Attributed to William Dent. Forms part of: British Cartoon Collection (Library of Congress).

SUBJECTS:

• Prostitution--England--1780-1790.
• Taxes--England--1780-1790.
• Brothels--England--1780-1790.

FORMAT: Cartoons (Commentary) British 1780-1790. Etchings British 1780-1790.

REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

DIGITAL ID: (b&w film copy neg.) cph 3c32976 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3c32976