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Heigho! Says Thimble

Song Sheet
16 September 1809 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Song sheet with etched head piece coloured by hand

Object details

Category
Object type
TitleHeigho! Says Thimble (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
letterpress and hand-coloured etching
Brief description
'Heigho! Says Thimble'. Headpiece by George Cruikshank. Published London, 16 September 1809, by Laurie & Whittle
Physical description
Song sheet with etched head piece coloured by hand
Dimensions
  • Height: 11in
  • Width: 9in
Marks and inscriptions
Thimble's scolding wife lay dead, Heigho! says Thimble, My dearest duck's defunct in bed; Death has cabbaged her, oh! she's fled! With her roley, poley, gammon and spinnage, Heigho! says Thimble. Thimble buried his wife that night, Heigho! says Thimble ; I grieve to sew up my heart's delight, With her diamond ring on her finger tight, And her roley, poley, gammon and spinnage, Heigho! says Thimble. To saw off her finger, and steal the ring. Soon came the sexton; She sat up an end, and she gave a fling, Crying, d—e, you dog, you steal no such thing, With your roley, poley, gammon and spinnage, Heigho! says Thimble. And off ran the sexton. She stalked to her home, and she made a din, Heigho! cries Thimble; Then popp'd out his head, and said, with a grin, You are dead, dearest duck, and I can't let you in, With your roley, poley, gammon and spinnage, Heigho! says Thimble.
Bibliographic references
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1943, London: HMSO, 1956.
  • A.M. Cohn. George Cruikshank: A Catalogue Raisonné . . . 1806-1877. London, 1924.
  • British Museum, Catalogue of Politicial and Personal Satires [c.1320-1832] London, 1870-1954.
Collection
Accession number
E.568-1943

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
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