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A Letter from Son to Father. BURNETT (James).
A NEAR RAMPANT LION
Black ink. Two pages, previously folded with address panel on the reverse. 4to. [203 x 164 mm].
Edinburgh: 20th April 1816
Written in large and very legible hand, a few minor edge tears to folds, otherwise in excellent condition.
A most charming letter from a son presumably at school in Edinburgh to his father recounting his recent activities and asking for news from home. What stands out is details of a possible circus or travelling menagerie that had come to Edinburgh and which seemed to be the talk of the town. Although he had not yet visited "the wild beasts", he tells of one of the lions who upon seeing an officer of the 42nd and evidently not liking his red uniform "attempted to get out of his cage at him", even making one of the spars loose in the process. Based on local advertisements around this time and the fact that the letter predates the Edinburgh Zoo, it has been suggested that the animals were a part of Stephano Polito's menagerie of wild beasts. The menagerie toured regularly in the summer months and during winter was exhibited at the Exeter Exchange in the Strand. It received popular support as well as notable visitors such as William Wordsworth and Lord Byron.
Stock no. ebc8701
A NEAR RAMPANT LION
Black ink. Two pages, previously folded with address panel on the reverse. 4to. [203 x 164 mm].
Edinburgh: 20th April 1816
Written in large and very legible hand, a few minor edge tears to folds, otherwise in excellent condition.
A most charming letter from a son presumably at school in Edinburgh to his father recounting his recent activities and asking for news from home. What stands out is details of a possible circus or travelling menagerie that had come to Edinburgh and which seemed to be the talk of the town. Although he had not yet visited "the wild beasts", he tells of one of the lions who upon seeing an officer of the 42nd and evidently not liking his red uniform "attempted to get out of his cage at him", even making one of the spars loose in the process. Based on local advertisements around this time and the fact that the letter predates the Edinburgh Zoo, it has been suggested that the animals were a part of Stephano Polito's menagerie of wild beasts. The menagerie toured regularly in the summer months and during winter was exhibited at the Exeter Exchange in the Strand. It received popular support as well as notable visitors such as William Wordsworth and Lord Byron.
Stock no. ebc8701
A NEAR RAMPANT LION
Black ink. Two pages, previously folded with address panel on the reverse. 4to. [203 x 164 mm].
Edinburgh: 20th April 1816
Written in large and very legible hand, a few minor edge tears to folds, otherwise in excellent condition.
A most charming letter from a son presumably at school in Edinburgh to his father recounting his recent activities and asking for news from home. What stands out is details of a possible circus or travelling menagerie that had come to Edinburgh and which seemed to be the talk of the town. Although he had not yet visited "the wild beasts", he tells of one of the lions who upon seeing an officer of the 42nd and evidently not liking his red uniform "attempted to get out of his cage at him", even making one of the spars loose in the process. Based on local advertisements around this time and the fact that the letter predates the Edinburgh Zoo, it has been suggested that the animals were a part of Stephano Polito's menagerie of wild beasts. The menagerie toured regularly in the summer months and during winter was exhibited at the Exeter Exchange in the Strand. It received popular support as well as notable visitors such as William Wordsworth and Lord Byron.
Stock no. ebc8701