Balkans

1878 · 5190 — s.l.: s.n. 1878. Small broadside 185 x 250mm woodcut vignette below title text in two columns. Poor-quality paper chipped and somewhat toned a few tears touching title larger area of loss to one margin clear of text. A scarce and fragile broadside of patriotic doggerel to inspire Englishmen to ‘arrise sic with heart and hand And sweep the cowardly Russian bear from off the Turkish land.’ With reference to Crimean war battles at ‘Inkerman Sebastopool and Balaclava too’ it likely dates from the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-78 when British warships were sent through the Dardanelles to aid the city of Constantinople although the signing of the Treaty of San Stefano on March 3rd 1878 ended the conflict and obviated the cause for this ‘probable war’. Poorly-printed with numerous compositing errors on thin paper this is an unlikely survivor and we have not been able to trace any copies in any collections. Although last line present ends with a comma it seems a fitting finish so this is likely another typo rather than an indication of more text on another sheet. [s.n.] unknown