REBUS PUZZLE.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington · No longer available

An Hieroglyphic Poetical Epistle [from a Gentleman to a Lady]; An attractive pairing of rhymed rebus letters, from a gentleman to a lady and her response.Rebus puzzles, with symbols used to replace whole or parts of words, were popular in the 18th and 19th centuries and were often used in satirical engravings. The letter from the gentleman opens, "Dear Lady, When lucid eyes like stars unclouded shone and women's charms like angels seem divine" and continues with similar exuberant praise; the lady sees through this and rebuts him: "I'm sharp enough your flattery to despise". The pair were first published in 1771 by W. Tringham, here printed by Laurie & Whittle from the same plates. The Laure & Whittle issue is also found on paper watermarked 1814; this copy bears no watermark.

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