Tarpley, Thompson & Company Broadside

Date1760-1763

OriginEngland, Bristol or London (probably)

MediumBlack and white line engraving

DimensionsOverall: 24 x 19.4cm (9 7/16 x 7 5/8in.)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase, The Friends of Colonial Williamsburg Collections Fund

Object number2007-113

DescriptionAn ornate rococo border decorated with coffee pots, tea cups, candlesticks, japanned tea boards, gloves, stockings, shoes and hats frames the text contained within. The text contains a long list of luxury items recently imported from London and Bristol to Virginia's colonial capital. It reads:

Just Imported from London & Bristol/ And to be sold either Wholesale or Retale on very reasonable Terms,/ By Tarpley, Thompson & Company,/ AT THEIR STORE IN WILLIAMSBURG. / A very large curious & compleat Assortment of EUROPEAN and/ INDIA GOODS, Consisting of/Best superfine midling and coarse Broad cloths, German Serges,/Duffles, Bearskins, Rugs and Blankets, white & colour'd Plains & coarse/ Woollens of all kinds. Irish Linnens of all Prices, fine Gulix Hollands,/ White & brown Sheeting, Ozenbrigs, Dowlas, Roles, Cambrick & Linnen Hand-/derchiefs, Russia-drabs, Long lawns, Diaper Table-cloths, Strip'd & brown hollands,/ 7/8 Garlix, Cambricks, Plain & flower'd Lawns, Muslins, Nankeens, a very pretty/ Assortment of Callicoes, English and India Chints, Printed Linnens, India-/ dimity, Plain, strip'd & spotted Lutestrings, rich Brocaded Tissues, Flower'd/ Velvets rich Peruvian Tissues best white, blue, black, and straw coloured Sattins,/rich corded Padusoys, Sarsnet, Alamode, Sergedesoy, and a great variety of/ other kinds of Silks in the newest Taste & Fashion. Black and Colour'd/Crapes, Bombazeen, best superfine Duroys & Sagathies, Plain and strip'd/Camblets, Prunelloes, Tamies, Durants, Everlastings, figured Amens./Damask, plain, check'd, and Brocaded Missinets, Brolio's, Prussian Lute-/strings, figured Grograms, Venetian Poplins, Manchester Velvets, Silk and/hair-shags, dyed Jeans & Thicksets, figured Dimities, handsome Wilton/Carpets, Silk, Callamanco & Leather Shoes. Hats of all Prices. China, Glass/ and Earthenware, Ornamental China, Haberdashery of all kinds, Gloves,/Prints, handsome Looking Glasses in Carv'd and Gold Frames, Sconce-/Glasses, Dressing Glasses, Iron ware and Cuttlery of all Sorts; handsome/ painted Tea-boards, Waiters and Bread-Baskets. Silver ware of all Sorts;/Jewellery, Gold and Silver Lace, and a very great variety of almost every/ Article that can be thought of, suitable for this Country./ Discount will be allowed for ready Money on any Sum exceeding 5 Pounds.
Label TextPrinted between 1760 and 1763, this advertisement displays an ornate rococo border decorated with coffee pots, tea cups, candlesticks, japanned tea boards, gloves, stockings, shoes and hats. Within the border, the text contains a long list of luxury items recently imported from London and Bristol to Virginia's colonial capital attesting to the rich material life of individuals in Williamsburg.

James Tarpley owned a site on the corner of Duke of Gloucester and Botetourt Street in Williamsburg. During the time that he occupied this location, he was a partner in the firm of Tarpley, Thompson & Company, operating primarily out of Bristol, England.

InscribedOn the reverse is "1761" and three lines of account information.

Exhibition(s)

"Every Article...suitable for this Country": Furnishing Early Williamsburg [2]