Ignatius Sancho's trade card
Print
after 1772-before 14 December 1780 (made)
after 1772-before 14 December 1780 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This printed card was made for Ignatius Sancho (1729–1780), a London grocer. It advertises his special blend Trinidado tobacco and illustrates a native American boy smoking a pipe and an African boy gathering sugar. Sancho's links with the Caribbean were more than commercial. He was himself an African, born on a slave ship crossing the Atlantic.
He came to London as a small boy, first living in Greenwich and later working as a butler for the powerful Montagu family. As well as running his grocery shop, he wrote music, appeared on the stage and corresponded with leading literary figures. He was the first African known to vote in a British election.
He came to London as a small boy, first living in Greenwich and later working as a butler for the powerful Montagu family. As well as running his grocery shop, he wrote music, appeared on the stage and corresponded with leading literary figures. He was the first African known to vote in a British election.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Ignatius Sancho's trade card (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Engraving on paper |
| Brief description | Printed trade card advertising Ignatius Sancho's 'Best Trinidado' tobacco, before 1780 |
| Physical description | Small printed card showing two boys in front of a large wooden barrel. The boy on the left wears a feather headress and represents a native American. He is seated, smoking a long pipe and holding a tankard. The boy on the right is African. He is gathering bundles of sugar. A banner above their heads reads 'Sancho's Best Trinidado.' The word 'Hogarth' is hand inscribed outside the plate mark, at bottom right. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Hogarth |
| Credit line | Forster Bequest |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | This printed card was made for Ignatius Sancho (1729–1780), a London grocer. It advertises his special blend Trinidado tobacco and illustrates a native American boy smoking a pipe and an African boy gathering sugar. Sancho's links with the Caribbean were more than commercial. He was himself an African, born on a slave ship crossing the Atlantic. He came to London as a small boy, first living in Greenwich and later working as a butler for the powerful Montagu family. As well as running his grocery shop, he wrote music, appeared on the stage and corresponded with leading literary figures. He was the first African known to vote in a British election. |
| Bibliographic reference | Arthur Torrington, ed. Equiano: Enslavement, resistance and abolition Birmingham: Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, 2007. ISBN: 0709302575 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | F.118:194 |
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| Record created | April 21, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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