Coster Collection

Minnie Duncan music hall coster act
Minnie Duncan of the music hall double act Duncan and Godfrey (Arthur Godfrey). Wearing coster costume of long black skirt with full-length white apron, shawl and large hat with ostrich feathers

Arthur Godfrey music hall coster act
Arthur Godfrey of the music hall coster double act Duncan and Godfrey with Minnie Duncan

The Re-cut Koh-i-noor Diamond, 1852
Engraving of the re-cut Koh-i-noor ( mountain of light ) diamond, 1852

My Country Lane by Edgar Bateman & Albert Perry
Promotional music sheet for My Country Lane music hall song by Edgar Bateman and Albert Perry. The singer, Alec Hurley, portrayed here, specialised in coster songs

Mr Albert Chevaliers Recitals
This postcard titled Mr Albert Chevaliers Recitals shows the many characters Albert Chevalier played. As the coster, fourth from right in the front row, he sang his famous coster songs

The Uncut Koh-i-noor Diamond, c. 1851
Engraving of the Koh-i-noor ( mountain of light ) diamond, in its original state, circa 1851

Fifty Shilling Tailors Advert Photograph
An advertisement photograph for Fifty Shilling Tailors, portraying an older man wearing a smart suit from a seated position. Date: circa 1939

Brylcreem Advertisement Photograph
This photograph was used for the advertisement of Brylcreem, a British brand of hair styling products for men

ALEC HURLEY (1871 - 1913), English music hall singer entertainer, tenor singer of coster songs

Coster with Dogs (oil on canvas)
5889180 Coster with Dogs (oil on canvas) by Green, Madeline Emily (1884-1947); 50.8x53.3 cm; Private Collection; Photo © The Ms Gallery, London

Self-Portrait as a Costermonger (oil on canvas)
5889181 Self-Portrait as a Costermonger (oil on canvas) by Green, Madeline Emily (1884-1947); 40.6x33 cm; Private Collection; Photo © The Ms Gallery, London

Pearly King - or Pearly Prince? Little boy in fancy dress
A little boy posing for his photograph in a Pearly King costume. Date: 1920s

A Gypsy Fortune Teller with a Young Couple, (oil on panel)
827842 A Gypsy Fortune Teller with a Young Couple, (oil on panel) by Coster, Adam de (c.1586-1643); 75.5x106.5 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: A Gypsy Fortune Teller with a Young Couple)

Albert Chevalier singing one of his coster songs
Albert Chevalier (1861-1923) singing one of his coster songs in a West-End drawing-room. Date: 1892

British Festivities in Upper Egypt (engraving)
1039284 British Festivities in Upper Egypt (engraving) by Dollman, John Charles (1851-1934) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: British Festivities in Upper Egypt)

Mr Albert Chevalier singing one of his coster songs in a West End drawing room (engraving)
604273 Mr Albert Chevalier singing one of his coster songs in a West End drawing room (engraving) by Small

Tom and Bob among the coster mongers at a donkey cart race (coloured engraving)
606998 Tom and Bob among the coster mongers at a donkey cart race (coloured engraving) by English School

Off to Epping Forest, a Study of a Coster and a Family Party on Whitmonday (engraving)
1038919 Off to Epping Forest, a Study of a Coster and a Family Party on Whitmonday (engraving) by Renouard, Charles Paul (1845-1924) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Off to Epping Forest)

Cart-Horse Show and Parade at the Albert Palace and Olympia (engraving)
1050577 Cart-Horse Show and Parade at the Albert Palace and Olympia (engraving) by English School

Bert Matthews Pearly King and Queen back from New York after tour United States 1952 C1724

COSTER IN DONKEY CART
A London coster-monger and his friends enjoy a ride in their donkey-cart Date: 1875

Z. Zansz, printers sample for the Worlds Inventors souvenir album (A25) for Allen &
Z. Zansz, printers sample for the Worlds Inventors souvenir album (A25) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes, 1888

Portrait of Adam de Coster, 1627-1635, (1943). Creator: Anthony van Dyck
Portrait of Adam de Coster, 1627-1635, (1943). The Flemish painter Adam de Coster (c1586-1643) was a prominent member of the Antwerp Caravaggisti (stylistic followers of Caravaggio)

Albert Chevalier - English Comedian and Actor
Albert Onesime Britannicus Gwathveoyd Louis Chevalier (18611923) - English comedian and actor. Had a successful music hall career as a singer of coster songs of his own invention. Date: 1892

Laurens Jansen Coster
LAURENS JANSEN COSTER or KOSTER Dutch town official of Haarlem, credited by some with the invention of movable type

Fred Russell ventriloquist
Fred Russell (1862 1957) Irish ventriloquist, with his puppeteered dummy Coster Joe, seated upon his knee. Date: 1905

Francois De Coster
FRANCOIS )or Franz) de COSTER (known as Costerus) Belgian Jesuit churchman, theologian with a reputation as the Hammer of Heretics. Date: 1531 - 1619

Cockney Argument between a fat man and a thin man
Fat Party (after a War of words) - " If you come our court to-morrer and bring a bit o fat with yer, I ll bloomin well eat yer." !! Date: 1895

An old Cockney Woman - East London Date: circa 1890s

Christiaan Huygens, Dutch physicist, c1670. Huygens was responsible for two great advances in horology: the application of both the pendulum to the clock and the balance spring to the watch

Selling apples from a barrow in Scotland, 1830
A man selling apples from a barrow in Scotland, circa 1830. Date: C.1830

Winkle seller, 1869
Man selling fine fresh winkles from a cart, 1869 Date: 1869

Albert Chevalier (21 March 1861 10 July 1923) was an English, music hall comedian, singer and musical theatre actor

Music cover, For an A1 Nation Beer is Best, words and music by Nat Travers and Will Hyde, performed by Nat Travers, King of Coster Comedians. 1935

Victorian Scrap -- Coster. late 19th century

London street scene - The Coster Girl
A series of postcards showing women (in various jobs) in London - The Coster Girl.. Romanian-born sculptor and illustrator Alexander Popini served in the Royal Air Force during World War I

Music cover, The Stable Call Polka, by J G Jones, Master of the Band, dedicated to Captain Coster of the 16th Queens Lancers. circa 1850s

Adam De Coster
ADAM DE COSTER Flemish painter from Antwerp, about whom even the authorities know next to nothing. Date: 17TH CENTURY

Samuel Coster
SAMUEL COSTER Dutch physician and writer. Date: 1579 - 1665

Laurens Coster, Child
LAURENS JANSZOON COSTER Dutch printer : as a child, he writes in the earth, demonstrating a precocious proclivity for the printers profession. Date: 1370 - 1440

Laurens Coster, Printer
LAURENS JANSZOON COSTER Dutch printer, with a hand- press and early typescript. Date: 1370 - 1440

Gertie Millar Actress as a Cockney coster in The New Aladdin Date: 1907

Pieman and Costers
A coster boy and girl toss a coin for a pie Date: circa 1862

Anne Vallayer-Coster
ANNE VALLAYER-COSTER French artist, received into the Academie Francaise in 1770. Date: CIRCA 1770

The Irish Street Seller, illustration taken from The London Labour and the London
XJF869644 The Irish Street Seller, illustration taken from The London Labour and the London Poor by Henry Mayhew, circa 1840 (engraving) by English School

The Coster-Girl, illustration taken from The London Labour and the London Poor by Henry Mayhew
XJF869635 The Coster-Girl, illustration taken from The London Labour and the London Poor by Henry Mayhew, circa 1840 (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; English

Peace Rally
1st July 1919: Crowds at St. James Palace listening to the peace proclamation. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

New Year Diners
January 1913: A half starved costers donkey and a horse called Max enjoy their New Years Dinner at the Home of Rest for Horses in Cricklewood. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

Ironic Conversation between two Cockney men in an East London Boozer

Cockney Comment on the purchase of a parrot
Two Pals outside a pub looking at a third bargaining for a parrot with a sailor outside a pub. " Why, es Missus jaws enough. Wot ds e want with a bloomin parrot." !! Date: 1895

A couple of Cockney Loafers. Date: circa 1890s

A Cockney lady from Whitechapel, East London
A lovely drawing of a Cockney lady from Whitechapel, East London. Date: 1895

Sailor Jack - popular with all the Cockney Women
They All Love Jack. A popular sailor, obviously a bit of a wow with the ladies, of which he likely has one in every port... Date: 1895

Funny Cockney comment on a ladies neckwear
Funny Cockney comment on a fellow Cockney ladies neckwear. " Ow Is y, look at er frills. Got erself hup like a bloomin am bone!" Date: 1900

Smug Cockney woman who has nabbed her rivals Gent
Jilted! A smug Cockney woman who has nabbed her rivals Gent, throws her a very satisfied glance! Date: circa 1890s

Two Cockney Costers - one restraining a bulldog
Two young Cockney chaps, one of whom is having to restrain his Bulldog, who is obviously rather interested in something he has sniffed or spotted! Date: circa 1890s

Two Cockney street Flowergirls
Two Cockney Flowergirls, not in their first bloom of youth - entitled (somewhat wickedly) " Sweet Violets" ! - caricature by Phil May. Date: 1897

Two Cockneys discuss the pedigree of a dog
Two Cockneys discuss the (er..) pedigree of a dog! " Say, Bill, wots is pedigree?" Bill: " Why es by a porter out o a third class railway kerridge." !! Date: 1895

Vignette of a distinctive East London Character Date: 1890s

Arriet - a good Cockney Girl in all of her finery. Date: circa 1890s

Cockney Couple on Hampstead Heath reading a magazine
" The Upper Ten" - being read by a Cockney Couple (and their bulldog) under a tree on Hampstead Heath. A few bottles of ale have been consumed. Date: 1901

Cockney couple off a day out at Margate
Cockney couple in their finery - all ready to depart for a day out in Margate. Date: 1900

Cockney Humour - temptation
Salvation Army Captain: " When the Serpent tempted Eve" Bill: " Oh Chuck it! There wanted no bloomin snake

Two laughing young Cockney scamps Date: 1890s

Cockneys visiting a Royal Navy Gunboat
An Honest London Taxpayer wanting full value for his contributions! Visiting Day on a Gunboat. Arry: " Is the Captain in?" Jack: " Yes, hes aboard

Cockney London Flowergirl sells buttonhole to city gent
A Cockney London Flowergirl sells a buttonhole bouquet to a well-to-do city gentleman. Date: 1895

Two Cockney Costers having a jovial chat: " Wots th row up the Court, Bill?" " Bob Smith was kissing my Missus, and is Old Woman caught im!" Date: 1892

Two Cockney ladies admiring an artist
Two Cockney ladies admiring (?) an artist and is bloomin at ! Date: 1895

Happy Hampstead - Coster Saleswoman at Hampstead Fair, who also seems quite open to offers for her noisy offspring! Date: 1899

Cockney ladies discuss their romantic life
Two Cockney ladies discuss their romantic life - cartoon by Phil May

Cockney Coster Woman - caricature by Phil May
" Shes just about the neatest, sweetest and prettiest Donah in the whole wide world" - lyrics to a Coster song by Albert Chevalier - caricature by Phil May Date: 1892

Coster Cockney couple embracing on a park bench on Hampstead Heath. Date: 1890s

Cockney lovers - marriage proposal on the grass - " How do you fancy having awkins as your other name?!". Lyrics fom a coster song by Albert Chevalier. Date: 1898

Costers and Cockneys. Having a straight conversation! Date: 1895

Studies for A Coster Girl Dancing by Phil May. A right ol Cockney Knees Up! Date: circa 1890s

DIAMOND CUTTER, 1867. A diamond cutter from the Coster firm of Amsterdam demonstrating his polishing technique at the Universal Exposition at Paris, 1867

DIAMOND CUTTERS, 1867. / nA diamond-cutting exhibit at the Universal Exposition at Paris
DIAMOND CUTTERS, 1867. /nA diamond-cutting exhibit at the Universal Exposition at Paris, 1867, demonstrating the techniques and equipment used by the Coster firm of Amsterdam

LAURENS JANSZOON COSTER (c1370-c1440). Dutch town official. Line engraving, 17th century

Illness Notice, Malmesbury Workhouse, Wiltshire
A notice sent by Mr C.M. Gane, master of the Malmesbury Union workhouse, to a friend or relative of inmate Hezekiah Coster informing them that Coster was very ill. Date: 1896

Statue of Laurens Janszoon Coster, Haarlem
Statue of Laurens Janszoon Coster and the Grote Kerk or St. Balo Church in Haarlem, Holland circa 2008

Milton [Coster]
JOHN MILTON English writer Date: 1608-1674

Coster with his barrow, London
A coster with his barrow, loaded with fruit, on a London street

A London Coster
A London street coster, with his cart of fruit. A veritable cornucopia, wonderfully displayed on a white cloth and as spectacularly opulent in its variety, as the coster is dour in face!

Crowded out
A potato coster laments the progress in motorised traffic and predicts the future obsolesence of horse drawn vehicles. The caption reads - Stage Struck coster (to his dark coloured donkey)

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"Coster: A Vibrant Tapestry of Music, Entertainment, and Fashion" Step back in time to the enchanting world acts that captivated audiences throughout history. From the Minnie Duncan music hall coster act to Arthur Godfrey's lively performances, these talented individuals brought joy and laughter to all. In 1852, witness the spectacle of The Re-cut Koh-i-noor Diamond as it dazzles under the spotlight. Its brilliance matched only by the mesmerizing voice of ALEC HURLEY, a renowned English music hall singer who delighted crowds with his tenor renditions of beloved coster songs. Immerse yourself in nostalgia as Mr Albert Chevalier takes center stage with his captivating recitals. His words resonate deeply, painting vivid pictures of life in London's bustling streets. The allure doesn't stop there – feast your eyes on captivating photographs like the Fifty Shilling Tailors Advert and Brylcreem Advertisement. These snapshots capture not just fashion trends but also reflect societal aspirations during those times. Venture into a world where art meets entertainment through Fred Russell's ventriloquist act. Witness him bring characters to life with astonishing skill and comedic timing. Marvel at masterpieces such as "Coster with Dogs, " an oil on canvas that portrays a heartwarming bond between man and canine companion. And don't miss "Self-Portrait as a Costermonger, " which offers an intimate glimpse into an artist's unique perspective on their own identity. Finally, let us not forget the Pearly King - or is it perhaps a Pearly Prince? Behold this little boy adorned in fancy dress, embodying tradition and heritage passed down through generations. Join us on this journey through time as we celebrate the rich tapestry woven by these remarkable costers – entertainers who left an indelible mark on our hearts and minds.