A Specimen of Modern Orthoepy or the Illiterate Barber

Date1807

Publisher Walker

MediumEtching with hand color

DimensionsOther (Plate): 10 1/4 × 14in. (26cm, 14in.)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1939-226

DescriptionLower margin reads: "42/ A SPECIMEN of MODERN ORTHOEPY or the Illiterate Barber/ Pub'd January 1807 by / Walker No. 7 Cornhill."
Text above man in doorway reads: "Can_ye_dress/ my Bird for me?"
Text above the barber reads: "The Cooks Shop is over the way Sir / you'll get, it roasted at any hour!"
Printed faintly beside the title: "Vicle, Are News."
Label TextOne man sits in a straight backchair, covered with a cloth, and lathered for a shave. The barer stands, razor raised in the act of shaving the seated man, but turned toward the door-way where another man has appeared saying: "Can ye-Dress my Bird for me?" In his pocket is a slip reading Co-ri-o-la-nus of Co-ra-li. The barber replies: "The Cooks Shop is over the Way Sir. You'll get it roasted at any hour!" The shop itself is filled with wig-stands and wigs.

This satirical print takes place in a barber's shop and the topic is a play on words. The man entering the shop asks the barber to dress his "bird" while pointing to his beard. This refers to orthoepy, which is the study of the correct pronunciation of words. The barber misunderstands and directs the potential client to a cook shop where he can get his "bird" cooked.