Limericks Collection

There was an Old Man of Thames Ditton, who called out for something to sit on (litho)
966338 There was an Old Man of Thames Ditton, who called out for something to sit on (litho) by Lear, Edward (1812-88); Private Collection; (add.info.: There was an Old Man of Thames Ditton)

There was an Old Man of Blackheath, whose head was adorned with a Wreath (litho)
966250 There was an Old Man of Blackheath, whose head was adorned with a Wreath (litho) by Lear, Edward (1812-88); Private Collection; (add.info.: There was an Old Man of Blackheath)

"There was an old man with a beard, who said, It is just as I feared
LLM386602 " There was an old man with a beard, who said, It is just as I feared! ", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was an Old Man of Corfu, who never knew what he should do", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386624 " There was an Old Man of Corfu, who never knew what he should do", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

Undine, illustration for the letter U from the alphabet book Lyrics Pathetic & Humorous from A to Z
CHT263018 Undine, illustration for the letter U from the alphabet book Lyrics Pathetic & Humorous from A to Z, published by Frederick Warne 1909 (colour litho) by Dulac

"There was an Old Man of the Nile, who sharpened his nails with a file", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386663 " There was an Old Man of the Nile, who sharpened his nails with a file", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was an Old Person of Buda, whose conduct grew ruder and ruder", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386658 " There was an Old Person of Buda, whose conduct grew ruder and ruder", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was an Old Person of Chester, whom several small children did pester", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386713 " There was an Old Person of Chester, whom several small children did pester", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was an Old Man of Quebec- a beetle ran over his neck", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386693 " There was an Old Man of Quebec- a beetle ran over his neck", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was an Old Man on some rocks, who shut up his wife in a box", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386668 " There was an Old Man on some rocks, who shut up his wife in a box", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was an Old Man with a poker, who painted his face with red ochre", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386605 " There was an Old Man with a poker, who painted his face with red ochre", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was an Old Person of Tartary, who divided his jugular artery", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386709 " There was an Old Person of Tartary, who divided his jugular artery", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was a Young Person of Smyrna, whose Grandmother threatened to burn her", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386632 " There was a Young Person of Smyrna, whose Grandmother threatened to burn her", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was an Old Man of Nepaul, from his horse had a terrible fall", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386612 " There was an Old Man of Nepaul, from his horse had a terrible fall", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

There was an Old Person of Rye, who went up to town on a Fly (litho)
966326 There was an Old Person of Rye, who went up to town on a Fly (litho) by Lear, Edward (1812-88); Private Collection; (add.info.: There was an Old Person of Rye, who went up to town on a Fly)

There was an Old Person of Brigg, who purchased no end of a Wig (litho)
966324 There was an Old Person of Brigg, who purchased no end of a Wig (litho) by Lear, Edward (1812-88); Private Collection; (add.info.: There was an Old Person of Brigg)

There was an Old Person of Crowle, who lived in the Nest of an Owl (litho)
966323 There was an Old Person of Crowle, who lived in the Nest of an Owl (litho) by Lear, Edward (1812-88); Private Collection; (add.info.: There was an Old Person of Crowle)

There was an Old Person in Gray, whose feelings were tinged with dismay (litho)
966322 There was an Old Person in Gray, whose feelings were tinged with dismay (litho) by Lear, Edward (1812-88); Private Collection; (add.info.: There was an Old Person in Gray)

There was an Old Person of Bray, who sang through the whole of the Day (litho)
966320 There was an Old Person of Bray, who sang through the whole of the Day (litho) by Lear, Edward (1812-88); Private Collection; (add.info.: There was an Old Person of Bray)

There was an Old Person of Blythe, who cut up his Meat with a Scythe (litho)
966318 There was an Old Person of Blythe, who cut up his Meat with a Scythe (litho) by Lear, Edward (1812-88); Private Collection; (add.info.: There was an Old Person of Blythe)

There was an Old Person of Grange, whose manners were scroobious and strange (litho)
966304 There was an Old Person of Grange, whose manners were scroobious and strange (litho) by Lear, Edward (1812-88); Private Collection; (add.info.: There was an Old Person of Grange)

There was an Old Person of Dundalk, who tried to teach Fishes to walk (litho)
966294 There was an Old Person of Dundalk, who tried to teach Fishes to walk (litho) by Lear, Edward (1812-88); Private Collection; (add.info.: There was an Old Person of Dundalk)

There was an Old Man of Spithead, who opened the window, and said, "Fil-jomble, fil-jumble, fil-rumble-come-tumble
966292 There was an Old Man of Spithead, who opened the window, and said, " Fil-jomble, fil-jumble, fil-rumble-come-tumble

There was an Old Man of Hong Kong, who never did anything wrong (litho)
966275 There was an Old Man of Hong Kong, who never did anything wrong (litho) by Lear, Edward (1812-88); Private Collection; (add.info.: There was an Old Man of Hong Kong)

There was a Young Lady in White, who looked out at the depths of the Night (litho)
966274 There was a Young Lady in White, who looked out at the depths of the Night (litho) by Lear, Edward (1812-88); Private Collection; (add.info.: There was a Young Lady in White)

There was a Young Person in Red, who carefully covered her Head (litho)
966272 There was a Young Person in Red, who carefully covered her Head (litho) by Lear, Edward (1812-88); Private Collection; (add.info.: There was a Young Person in Red)

There was an Old Person of China, whose daughters were Jiska and Dinah (litho)
966267 There was an Old Person of China, whose daughters were Jiska and Dinah (litho) by Lear, Edward (1812-88); Private Collection; (add.info.: There was an Old Person of China)

There was an Old Person of Wick, who said, "Tick-a-Tick, Tick-a-Tick;Chickabee, Chickabaw"(litho)
966262 There was an Old Person of Wick, who said, " Tick-a-Tick, Tick-a-Tick; Chickabee, Chickabaw" (litho) by Lear

There was a Young Person in Green, who seldom was fit to be seen (litho)
966261 There was a Young Person in Green, who seldom was fit to be seen (litho) by Lear, Edward (1812-88); Private Collection; (add.info.: There was a Young Person in Green)

There was an Old Man in a Barge, whose Nose was exceedingly large (litho)
966253 There was an Old Man in a Barge, whose Nose was exceedingly large (litho) by Lear, Edward (1812-88); Private Collection; (add.info.: There was an Old Man in a Barge)

There was an Old Person of Deal, who in walking used only his heel (litho)
966248 There was an Old Person of Deal, who in walking used only his heel (litho) by Lear, Edward (1812-88); Private Collection; (add.info.: There was an Old Person of Deal)

There was an Old Man at a Junction, whose feelings were wrong with compunction (litho)
966243 There was an Old Man at a Junction, whose feelings were wrong with compunction (litho) by Lear, Edward (1812-88); Private Collection; (add.info.: There was an Old Man at a Junction)

"There was an Old Person of Tring, who embellished his nose with a ring", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386706 " There was an Old Person of Tring, who embellished his nose with a ring", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was an Old Man of the East, who gave all his children a feast", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386700 " There was an Old Man of the East, who gave all his children a feast", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was a Young Lady of Lucca, whose lovers completely forsook her", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386698 " There was a Young Lady of Lucca, whose lovers completely forsook her", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was an Old Man of Vienna, who lived upon Tincture of Senna", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386695 " There was an Old Man of Vienna, who lived upon Tincture of Senna", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was an Old Person of Cheadle was put in the stocks by the Beadle", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386684 " There was an Old Person of Cheadle was put in the stocks by the Beadle", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was a Young Lady of Sweden, who went by the slow train to Weedon", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386678 " There was a Young Lady of Sweden, who went by the slow train to Weedon", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was an Old Man who said, How shall I flee from this horrible Cow
LLM386676 " There was an Old Man who said, How shall I flee from this horrible Cow? ", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was an Old Man of Calcutta, who perpetually ate bread and butter", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386674 " There was an Old Man of Calcutta, who perpetually ate bread and butter", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was an Old Man of the Dee, who was sadly annoyed by a flea", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386673 " There was an Old Man of the Dee, who was sadly annoyed by a flea", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was an Old Man of Kilkenny, who never had more than a penny", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386660 " There was an Old Man of Kilkenny, who never had more than a penny", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was an Old Man who supposed that the street door was partially closed", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386648 " There was an Old Man who supposed that the street door was partially closed", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was an Old Person whose habits induced him to feed upon Rabbits", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386641 " There was an Old Person whose habits induced him to feed upon Rabbits", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was an Old Man in a casement, who held up his hands in amazement", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386639 " There was an Old Man in a casement, who held up his hands in amazement", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was a Young Lady of Norway, who casually sat in a doorway", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386634 " There was a Young Lady of Norway, who casually sat in a doorway", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was an Old Person of Leeds, whose head was infested with beads", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386631 " There was an Old Person of Leeds, whose head was infested with beads", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

"There was a Young Lady of Poole, whose soup was excessively cool", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386626 " There was a Young Lady of Poole, whose soup was excessively cool", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

"Limericks: A Whimsical World of Rhyme and Nonsense" Step into the enchanting world of limericks, where imagination knows no bounds. These short, humorous poems have been delighting readers for centuries with their clever wordplay and unexpected twists. "There was an Old Man of Blackheath, whose head was adorned with a Wreath (litho). " This quirky character sets the stage for countless tales that will leave you chuckling. In "There was an old man with a beard, who said, It is just as I feared. " we encounter another eccentric figure pondering life's mysteries. With each line, anticipation builds to discover what he fears. From Thames Ditton to Corfu and beyond, limericks transport us to far-off places filled with peculiar individuals like "There was an Old Man of Thames Ditton, who called out for something to sit on (litho). " Their absurd requests never fail to bring a smile. The misadventures continue in "There was an Old Man of the Nile when sharpened his nails with a file. " Such bizarre behavior keeps us guessing about what could possibly come next. But it's not just men who find themselves in amusing predicaments. In "There was an Old Person of Buda, " we witness someone's conduct growing ruder by the day. The consequences are sure to be hilarious. Children can also be quite mischievous as seen in "There was an Old Person of Chester whom several small children did pester. " Their relentless antics add charm and laughter to these whimsical verses. Even insects make appearances. Picture this: "There was an Old Man of Quebec- a beetle ran over his neck. " Unexpected encounters like these keep our imaginations buzzing. And let's not forget culinary adventures. In Peru resides "an Old Man who watched his wife making stew. " What surprises await him while observing her cooking skills? But sometimes, limericks take a darker turn.