‘An Embleme of the Four different Stages of life finely delineated in seven hieroglyphical Figures. Being a lively representation of the Address of young Lovers, the Raptures of a new-married couple; the reciprocal Harmony of Antient wedded companions; and the abject, wretched state of an Old Maid. Illustrated with a Paraphrase, on each cut, which serves as a Key to the whole. ‘_N.B._—At the abovesaid Place may be had all sorts of Fans and Fan-mounts of the newest Fashion, and at the lowest prices, wholesale or retail.’ On April 20, 1734, Pinchbeck advertises: ‘The Old Man’s Folly.—In this Fan is represented an old Miser, who at the age of Fourscore had the Vanity to court a young lady of Twenty; she despises his Addresses, and Cupid shoots Thunder at his Head: in this Dilemma, Bacchus invites him to a Banquet at the Nectarius Grove; whilst the Eye of Heaven shines propitious on the Raptures of a youthful couple. ‘Where may be had ‘The abject, wretched state of an Old Maid, and divers other curious Fans; the Designs taken from the best Masters.’ These two fans had been announced earlier by Pinchbeck on Jan. 15th of the same year, as follows:— ‘Just Published.... The Amours of an Old Batchellor, or the Downfall of Sir Limberham; likewise the four different Stages of Life; or the abject, wretched State of an Old Maid. To each of these Fans are prefix’d, Verses suitable to the Occasion, which explain the Design.’ M. Gamble, on August 11, 1739, advertises ‘A new Fan, wherein is delineated a Damsel bewailing the Loss of her Lover, who is represented as cast away in a Storm. ‘Where may also be had, a Fan lately publish’d entitled The Sailor’s Wedding, being made to the glorious and immortal Majesty of Queen Elizabeth.’ ‘Before and after Marriage’ gives expression to an idea which also supplied a favourite _motif_ for English and especially Staffordshire pottery. On a cream ware jug, with illustrations of courtship and matrimony, we have the following couplets expressive of the two contrasting conditions:— ‘In courtship Strephon careful hands his lass Over a stile a child with ease might pass.’ * * * * * ‘But wedded, Strephon now neglects his dame, Tumble or not, to him ‘tis all the same.’ The fan leaf, published in Paris, but also issued in England, illustrates two scenes, in the former of which Cupid smiles approvingly: in the latter, Cupid in the background is overwhelmed with grief at this instance of Strephon’s indifference; above are inscriptions in French and Spanish: ‘La Complaisance de l’Amant ou Huit jours avant,’ and ‘L’indifférence du Mari ou Huit jours après.’ The fan etched from drawings by William Williams, a name which suggests an English origin of the idea. [Illustration: A Trip to Gretna. Schreiber Coll^n, British Museum.] [Illustration: ‘Bartolozzi’ Fan. Mrs Frank W. Gibson. (Eugènie Joachim.)]