Scarce Antique Folklore Souvenir Relating To Yorkshire’s Very Own Mother Shipton

A Scarce Antique Early 20th Century Folklore Souvenir Relating To Yorkshire’s Very Own Mother Shipton.

In North Yorkshire, nestled just outside of the lovely town of Knaresborough, you'll find the birthplace of Ursula Southeil, or as she's more famously known, Mother Shipton.  Born in 1488, Mother Shipton is England's most famous prophetess.  During her lifetime she made several premonitions about some of the most significant historical events to take place in England, including the Great Fire of London and the Spanish Armada.

She is remembered as such an important local phenomenon in her hometown of Knaresborough, that the remains of the cave in which she lived, situated close to the Petrifying Well, can still be visited today.  It is in fact the oldest tourist attraction to charge a fee in England, and has been operated since 1630.  And, it will have been during a visit to this tourist attraction in the early 20th century that someone will have decided to buy a souvenir to remember their visit. 

There are eight rows of pins on the sheet, with just two missing. The illustration at the top shows Mother Shipton herself, in witch's hat with stick. She points to a scroll reading 'If to-morrow from me, one pin you will take/ and daily continue to do so / You will find at the end of some months from this date / One left for your own or friend'[s] trousseau.

Condition is decent, commensurate with age. The pins could do with a clean and there are a few water stains halfway down the sheet and also on the illustration. A tear and couple of nibbles on the illustration too, and what looks like an ink stain. But still retains its strong imagery of Mother Shipton and all but two of the pins!

Measures 47cm x 12cm

Weighs 22.84 grams