shop token or ticket, english; 1780s

The obserse side show the interior of a toy shop with a counter and squared shelving. To the left is a door and more shelving which appears to form a window. It is possible that the squared shelving is actually a window display. In front of the counter stand a woman and a boy and girl; behind the counter stands another woman. Each square of the shelving shows all or part of an object. The most recognisable are doll figures and horses. The top area is patterned as a plaster ceiling and the bottom a wooden floor. Below the image is 'KIRK'.

The reverse side is marked with details of the shop.

Also known as 'tickets', brass discs of this type were issued by shops as advertising tokens and as redeemable tokens for stock.

In common with the practice at the time, James Kirk used the initial I rather than J on the token. He was a seller and not a maker of toys, however, he was also listed as an engraver and a seal engraver. The best guide to the London merchants at this date is the Kent Directory, and James Kirk is not listed in any volumes between 1780 and 1800. The merchant had to pay to be included and this may be the reason he does not appear. Kirk is not listed as being a member of any of the city Liveries:

1. (first record available) Bailey's British Directory of Merchants & Traders's Useful Companion, 1784, 1st Edition
JAMES KIRK TOY WAREHOUSE No. 52 St. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD
2. The London Directory, 1788 (Kirk is not listed in the 1790 edition)
JAMES KIRK ENGRAVER 52 St. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD
3. The Universal British Directory, 1790, 1791, 1793 (but not listed after)
JAMES KIRK SEAL ENGRAVER AND TOYMAN No. 52 St. PAUL'S
CHURCH YARD.

There is a listing for a will of a James Kirk, May 1791 which may be or may not be connected. Often people died and it was sometime before the listings changed or were removed. Also there may be listings in Land Tax books and Rates books. At the time of these records, no listing against addresses were made except in the Land Tax and Rates and usually only for the owner and not for tenants. Both the will and the tax records will need to be researched.

James Kirk is listed in the 1922 book Tickets & passes of Great Britain & Ireland by W J Davis & A W Waters, Leamington Spa. He is recorded as having stuck other tokens one of which showed the shop with a woman on the left holding a dancing doll and a soldier with a drum on the right. The book states Kirk sold 'all Royal Counters Geo.III'

Made for James Kirk, 52 St Paul's Church Yard, London

B.77-1996