A heraldic fan leaf, a quick ready reference designed to interpret the status of British royalty and nobility with reasonable accuracy. Presumably the fan was intended as an accessory at the theatre, pleasure gardens and and other social events. The outer row contain heraldic charges beneath which are the crowns the Prince of Wales and various lesser crowned nobility; next are 'Distinction of Houses' and examples of 'Knight of the Garter' and 'Commoner & his Lady'; next are 'Points of Escutcheon', 'Metals & Colours', 'Furrs' interspersed with how to distinguish a Bishop from and a Baronet and lastly there is a row of division of the field, very helpfully distinguishing between those men who have had 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 wives and and an heiress and possibly the future number 8.
Description:
Title from dealer's description., "Enter'd at Stationers Hall"--Below imprint statement., Accompanied by a blank sheet of laid paper, cut to same size., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and For variant states "Sold by by Wm. Cock, Fan Maker to the Dutchess of York at No. 50 Pall Mall and 55 St. Pauls Church Yard", see nos. 198 and 199 in the British Museum's Shreiber Collection of Fans and Fan-Leaves.
Publisher:
Pubd. as the act directs Feby. 11, 1792, by F. Martin & Co. and Sold by Sarah Ashton, Fan Maker, No. 28 Little Britain
