Costermonger Collection

London Life: Costermonger Pearly Kings and Queens, Southwark Date: circa 1940

Views of Golden Lane, London 1872
Views of Golden Lane, near Smithfield Market, in London, 1872. Illustrations (clockwise from top left): The Earls Barrow; Making trimmings for Soup Kitchens; China Yard on Saturday Afternoon; a

A London Costermonger
A London costermonger with a fully laden cartload of vegetables

A moody greengrocer
Eden Antho

The Coster Girls, 1894 (oil on canvas)
SAG114798 The Coster Girls, 1894 (oil on canvas) by Rothenstein, William (1872-1945); 100.6x75.8 cm; Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust, UK; Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust

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

Coster, illustration from London Types, published by William Heinemann, 1898 (hand-coloured woodcut)
ELB109849 Coster, illustration from London Types, published by William Heinemann, 1898 (hand-coloured woodcut) by Nicholson, William (1872-1949); Private Collection; © Desmond Banks

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

A Coster Woman, n. d. Creator: Philip William May
A Coster Woman, n.d

Strawberries. All Ripe! All Ripe!, 1881. Creator: John Thomson
Strawberries. All Ripe! All Ripe!, 1881. A work made of woodburytype, plate 9 in the book " street incidents" (1881)

Strawberries. All ripe! All ripe!, 1877. Creator: John Thomson
Strawberries. All ripe! All ripe!, 1877. A work made of woodburytype, from the album " street life in london"

A Dancing Bear, 1865 (oil on canvas)
3930814 A Dancing Bear, 1865 (oil on canvas) by Jernberg, August (1826-96); 113x163 cm; National Museum, Stockholm, Sweden; Swedish, out of copyright

Illustration for The Essays of Elia by Charles Lamb (litho)
3642115 Illustration for The Essays of Elia by Charles Lamb (litho) by Jones, A. Garth (1872-1930); Private Collection; (add.info.: Illustration for The Essays of Elia by Charles Lamb)

Young greens, all hearty (litho)
3641775 Young greens, all hearty (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Young greens, all hearty. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

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

"Strawberries. All ripe! All ripe!", from Street Life in London, by J
659975 " Strawberries. All ripe! All ripe!", from Street Life in London, by J. Thomson and Adolphe Smith, 1877 (b/w photo) by Thomson

A costermonger
A London costermonger and his girl on their cart selling fruit and vegetables. Date: 1885

"Pine-Apples, "a Penny a Slice, 1845 (engraving)
2920755 " Pine-Apples, " a Penny a Slice, 1845 (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Illustration for The Illustrated London News)

A "friend", Musician, Costermonger, Engine-Driver (engraving)
6010562 A " friend", Musician, Costermonger, Engine-Driver (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A " friend", Musician, Costermonger)

The Costermonger (engraving)
5212985 The Costermonger (engraving) by Weir, Harrison William (1824-1906); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Costermonger. Illustration for The British Workman (1873).); © Look and Learn

The Costermonger (engraving)
2781057 The Costermonger (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Costermonger. Illustration for Chatterbox (1889).); © Look and Learn

Costermonger (colour litho)
3650305 Costermonger (colour litho) by Petherick, H.W. (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Costermonger)

Pictures of London by a French Artist, I (engraving)
1053032 Pictures of London by a French Artist, I (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Pictures of London by a French Artist, I)

Costermonger, Naples (engraving)
962159 Costermonger, Naples (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Costermonger, Naples)

Dick Turpin (colour litho)
6006881 Dick Turpin (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Illustration for Dick Turpin in the Bow Bells Nursery Tales series (J Dicks)

The "Truth"Toy Show at the Albert Hall (engraving)
1603827 The " Truth" Toy Show at the Albert Hall (engraving) by Hardy, David (1837-70); Private Collection; (add.info.: The " Truth" Toy Show at the Albert Hall)

The Street Vendors Question, Life in Golden Lane (engraving)
1058163 The Street Vendors Question, Life in Golden Lane (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Street Vendors Question, Life in Golden Lane)

Bishopsgate Street, from London, a Pilgrimage
STC377543 Bishopsgate Street, from London, a Pilgrimage, written by William Blanchard Jerrold (1826-94) & engraved by A. Sargent, pub

Lord Shaftesbury inspecting a costermongers Donkey Show
STC393426 Lord Shaftesbury inspecting a costermongers Donkey Show, illustration from The Church of England: A History for the People by H.D.M. Spence-Jones, pub

The Coster Boy and Girl Tossing the Pieman (engraving)
6006180 The Coster Boy and Girl Tossing the Pieman (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Coster Boy and Girl Tossing the Pieman)

Pearly Kings and Queens celebrating in Hackney, East London. 24th March 1955

BRIGHTON TRADERS / 1899
A costermonger selling fruit in Brighton stops to have a cup of hot tea from the barrow of a fellow trader Date: 1899

Occupation - Costermonger
London characters: costermonger Date: circa 1870

COSTERMONGER
A costermonger leads his donkey laden with vegetables through the streets calling for people to buy his wares Date: 1869

Costermonger and rag fair 1870
Rows of stalls were men shout and scream to catch some unfortunate visitor by shaking an old waistcoat or a pair of trousers in his face. Date: 1870

London costermonger 1850s
Here partaters! kearots and turnips! fine brockelo-o-o!. Date: circa 1850s

Costers, 1920. Artist: George Belcher
Costers, 1920. From Londoners Then and Now As Pictured By Their Contemporaries, edited by Geoffrey Holme. [The Studio Ltd. London, 1920]

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

Dog costermonger selling in the street on a Christmas card
Dog costermonger selling juicy bones in the street on a Christmas card. Date: circa 1890s

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

Victorian costermonger and his cart
A Victorian costermonger and his cart, stacked up with baskets full of produce, photographed on a street of terraced Georgian houses. Date: 4 February 1893

Grooming costers donkeys, London, c1903 (1903). View of stables and donkeys for hire to costers (or costermongers), street traders selling fruit and vegetables. From Living London, Vol

Pearly family in their donkey-drawn moke, London, 1926-1927. Artist: McLeish
Pearly family in their donkey-drawn moke, London, 1926-1927. Cockney Pearly kings (originally costermongers - fruit and vegetable sellers), wore suits covered in mother-of-pearl buttons

Pearly king and queen in high spirits, London, 1926-1927. Cockney Pearly kings (originally costermongers - fruit and vegetable sellers), wore suits covered in mother-of-pearl buttons

Pearly king, London, 1926-1927. Artist: Hoppe
Pearly king, London, 1926-1927. Cockney Pearly kings (originally costermongers - fruit and vegetable sellers), wore suits covered in mother-of-pearl buttons

The Ass, c1850. Artist: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins
The Ass, c1850. The central image shows the ass or donkey (Equus asinus). Surrounding vignettes show animals (clockwise from top left)

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

Albert Chevalier (21 March 1861 10 July 1923) was an English, music hall comedian, singer and musical theatre actor. He specialised in cockney related humour based on life as a costermonger in London

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"London Life: Exploring the Vibrant World of Costermongers" Step back in time to the bustling streets of Southwark, where costermongers were a common sight. These hardworking individuals formed an integral part of London life, selling their wares and adding color to the city's tapestry. The Pearly Kings and Queens, adorned in their distinctive pearl-buttoned suits, were iconic figures among the costermonger community. Their charitable efforts and unique fashion sense made them beloved by all. In 1872, Golden Lane offered breathtaking views of London's evolving landscape. The cobblestone streets echoed with the cries of costermongers as they peddled their goods from colorful market stalls. Captured on canvas in 1894, "The Coster Girls" immortalized the vivacious spirit and camaraderie shared by these women who worked alongside their male counterparts. Their resilience shone through despite facing numerous challenges. Man's best friend was often seen accompanying a costermonger on his daily rounds. Whether depicted in oil or woodcut form, these loyal canine companions added charm to scenes that showcased both friendship and hardship. Philip William May's self-portrait as a costermonger revealed not only his artistic talent but also his deep connection to this vibrant subculture. His brushstrokes captured both pride and determination etched onto every face he encountered. John Thomson's captivating photographs from 1881 and 1877 transported viewers into the heart of Strawberry season—a time when ripe fruit overflowed from baskets carried by enthusiastic costermongers eager to please customers' palates. Beyond fruits and vegetables, other curiosities found their way into a costermonger's repertoire. A dancing bear became an unexpected spectacle amidst street markets while illustrations for Charles Lamb's essays brought literary musings to life within this lively setting.