Ladies Beavers and the Sign of the Female Ass

I have reported on eighteenth-century trade cards before (here and here) and am happy to post these interesting and curious trade cards that are recently come to the fore.

Trade card of hatter, Catherine West, circa 1733-69. (Lewis Walpole Library)

Catherine West
at the Hatt & Seven Starr’s in Monmouth Street the
Corner of Browns Gardens Facing the Seven Dials
Sells all sorts of Womens Apparel Both New & Second Hand Wholesale & Retail at Reasonable Rates viz. Silk Gowns, Scarlet Cloaks, Market Womens Cloaks, all Manner of Stuffs in the Piece, Ruſsells, Stuffs Damasks, Cambletts, Cambletees, Prunell’s, Callamancoe’s, Irish Stuffs, Joans, Spinning & Made in the Genteleſt Manner, Likewiſe Gives Ready Money for Womens Apparel Rich or Plain.
N.B. at the Above Place are Sold Ladies Beavers, Mens Hatts New or Second Hand by ye Maker John West.

Trade card of William Brewis, circa 1804. (Bodleian Libraries)

WILLIAM BREWIS,
HAIR-DRESSER, PERUKE-MAKER, HORSE SURGEON,
LAMP-LIGHTER, SHOE-BLACK &c.

SIGN OF THE
FEMALE ASS,
WARKWORTH

RESPECTFULLY begs leave to inform the Inhabitants of Warkworth and its Neighbourhood, that he has made a freſh Commencement in the above Buſineſſes, and hopes by his much amended Conduct and ſteady Attention, that he will merit the Favour of the Public.
   W.B. Shaves and Cuts Hair in the firſt faſhion, makes Perukes to any Pattern, Poles and Bleeds Horſes with the greateſt Dexterity, Lights Lamps by the Year or Quarter, Blacks Shoes at Five Minutes Notice, lets out to hire a Female Aſs by the Day, Week, Month, or Quarter.
   N.B. When a Stage Keeper is wanted, apply to the above.
   ** An Apprentice wanted, with whom a Premium is expected.

Auguſt 1, 1804.

Jack Plane