Tuesday, February 28, 2012

From the Ledger of Ladies


Three pages from an old 1890s scrapbook I found off Charing Cross Road about a decade ago. It's actually an ancient ledger book with blue lined pages. Never scanned any of its pages until this week, though I'd often thought of doing so. Every leaf in it has been collaged with pictures of turn-of-the-century female music hall stars. No idea who put it together: nor can I decide if it is the work of a man or a woman. But he or she is strikingly fond of plump ladies in tights with legs fully revealed. A strange ribaldry everywhere afoot.