Owner Comments:
Surrey Lambeth DH #11
Obverse: A man standing, smoking a pipe and holding a mug and a keg AUGT. 24.96 SR. GEORGE COOK . MAYOR OF GARRAT . ELECD
Reverse: SR. G. COOK FRUITERER GREEN GROCER & OYSTER MERCHANT STANGATE LAMBETH in seven lines, the design embellished with a bunch of carrots on either side, above are chestnuts and below a cabbage.
Edge: Plain (in collar)
Diesinker: Thomas Prattent
Manufacturer: Paul Skidmore
Issuer: Matthew Denton
Rarity: Scarce
The Surrey hamlet of Garrett held, on an irregular basis, a mock elections for Mayor, contested amongst the most outrageous and extraordinary ‘candidates’ to be found. Elected Mayors include ‘Sir’ Jeffery Dunstan, a knock-kneed dwarf – a travelling dealer in old wigs and ‘Sir’ Harry Dinsdale, a muffin salesman. George Cook, a fruit seller, green grocer and oyster seller, was one of the contestants in the 1796 election. All three of these gentlemen appear on tokens in this series.
Matthew Denton was an engraver and printer who issued a number of specious tokens for various locations throughout Great Britain. Thomas Prattent was a well-known, accomplished copperplate engraver who also issued a number of specious tokens for collectors.
Thomas Prattent engraved the plates for the "Virtuoso's Companion" which was published for him by Matthew Denton, a work covering the Provincial token coinage. The work consists of 240 plates, issued in 8 volumes, over 12 months.
Atkins: Surrey 15
Heritage Sale, 15 December 2022