Nine Fawcett Prints

In the Ruari & Antonia McLean reference (Benjamin Fawcett 1808-1893, finest of the colour printers) page 189 there is mention of six sporting prints. They are referred to in MCF Morris’s (Rev Morris’s son) notes of 1890, now in the care of Hull University Library. It is known his notes were not very accurate, and here is a case in point. Firstly, a list of those mentioned by Morris (jnr):

1.I have a notion that even Chiffney could not do the thing better,
but it appears to me the horses’ head is getting a long way off.
2.I had not the most distant notion that my horse was going to stop.
3.My good fellows, I have an idea that I shall be right on the top of you.
4.I have an idea that this is a most important and effective fall.
5.My good fellows, have you any notion where you can get a saw?
6.I have a notion you must either pull him over or persuade him to pull
you back again.

This set of 9 available prints includes all but the first mentioned print. However, there are 4 others:

The other titles of this set of nine newly catalogued items:
7. I have no idea what could induce me to follow you over this d….d rotten bridge.
8. I have an idea I shall win now if I can but carry in my weight.
9. I have positively no idea what I am to do in this case….have you my good fellow?
10. I say my good Woman, have you any idea how they manage here, to get a horse out of a brook.

The set is priced at £225 (unframed). It is a rare opportunity to own an as yet uncatalogued selection of prints by this excellent printer from Driffield. We are still no wiser as to what they were used for, or whether they were used in a book. The repeat theme of key words would make us assume they were produced for a specific purpose, but that still remains a mystery.