North, L.J., and Thomas Price | A handsome broadside with numerous engravings of equestrian performances

North, L.J., and Thomas Price

Price & North's British & American Equestrian Company. Lambeth: J.W. Peel, [1843?]

Letterpress playbill (490 x 360 mm). Printed in blue and black, with 3 intricate engravings to head advertising North and Price's previous accomplishments, and a border of 22 woodcut vignettes depicting horsemanship; old folds, stray spots not affecting woodcuts, some smudging at head and foot, small repair to right margin. Mounted on linen.

A handsome broadside with numerous engravings in blue. L. J. North was the first American equestrian headliner to appear in London, and performed alongside the British horseman Thomas Price starting in 1838. The three woodcuts at the head of this playbill depict "Rewards of Merit" for their earlier success in a somersault competition on horseback in 1839—with Price performing fifty-six somersaults in a row, and North performing fifty-five. The equestrians announce an upcoming performances along with "their entire Company of distinguished Equestrians and other Artists." Price is presented as "The Great British Champion Vaulter, who has accomplished the truly incredible feat of throwing Sixty Summersets without intermission" and of North, it states: "to anticipate any description of the almost super-human Gifts of this young and accomplished Rider, would be an injustice to those Feats of Horsemanship that have acquired for him ... Every spectator stand amazed at his powers,——every tongue echoes the language of his triumphant glory, whenever his spirited performance have been witnessed in every part of the Globe."