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Broadsheet ballad titled 'Susan's Adventures, In A Man of War.' An Answer to the "British Man of War."
Broadsheet ballad titled 'Susan's Adventures, In A Man of War.' An Answer to the "British Man of War."

Broadsheet ballad titled 'Susan's Adventures, In A Man of War.' An Answer to the "British Man of War."

Printer (1845 - 1849)
Date1845 - 1849
Object number00017447
NameBroadsheet
MediumWoodcut engraving and printed text on paper mounted on card.
DimensionsOverall: 253 x 189 mm, 0.023 kg
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionBroadsheet ballad titled 'Susan's Adventures, In A Man of War.' An Answer to the "British Man of War." This ballad refers to a girl called Susan who dressed as a sailor to secretly be with her beloved sailor William aboard a British war ship. Whilst she is injured in battle, they both survive and on return to England, marry.HistoryBroadsheet rhymes and verses were the cheapest prints available during the 18th and 19th century. They were sold by street sellers known as Flying Stationers, who charged a minimal fee of a penny or half-penny. They featured popular songs that were often sung in homes, inns and taverns and covered a range of themes relating to contemporary events or stories. Printed alongside the songs were woodcut illustrations. Most of the broadsheet publishers did not date or mark their works, making it difficult to pinpoint when they were produced. The publication of ballads was part of the commemoration and production of material about shipwrecks. Ships were part of the everyday life in the 19th century and stories about their voyages, wrecks, record breaking voyages and commissions often featured in newspapers and commemorative souvenirs.SignificanceBroadsheets were designed as printed ephemera to be published and distributed rapidly. This also meant they were quickly disposed of with many of them not surviving the test of time. The museum's broadsheet collection is therefore a rare and valuable example of how maritime history was communicated to a wide audience, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries. They vibrantly illustrate many of the themes and myths surrounding life at sea. Some of them also detail stories about transportation, migration.