Handkerchief

The British Museum

Printed handkerchief made to commemorate John Wilkes's election as an MP for Middlesex in March 1768, including a portrait of Wilkes, an allegorical figure of Justice, the final 'State of the Poll', and the words 'Vox Populi Vox Dei'. Wilkes was re-elected for Middlesex after being expelled from the House of Commons on three consecutive occasions in 1769 (on the latter two occasions Wilkes was returned despite the House of Commons having declared him incapable of being re-elected into that parliament) and the handkerchief would have had strong relevance for these subsequent Middlesex elections.

The British Museum; Museum number: 1904,1029.1

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Candidate: William Beauchamp Proctor
Candidate: George Cooke
Candidate: John Wilkes
Constituency: Middlesex
date: c1768
Election: Mar-1768
keyword: Handkerchief
keyword: Textiles
maker: Anonymous
materials: Linen
materials: Red ink
place: Brentford
place: Middlesex