Visitekaartje van boekverkoper Bettison te Cheltenham 1826

This is a calling card for Bettison's bookshop in Cheltenham; it’s undated and was created by an anonymous artist. This card evokes the cultural milieu of early 19th-century England, where literacy and access to books were becoming increasingly important markers of class and social mobility. The detailed interior depicted here speaks to the aspirational values of the rising middle class. Bettison’s bookstore isn’t just selling books; it’s selling access to knowledge, culture, and upward mobility. It's a space where libraries or small parcels of books could be purchased or exchanged. Note how this card also advertises patent medicine, coal, and tea – essential commodities that speak to the material comforts desired by this emerging social group. The mention of being an agent for the East India Company’s teas reflects the global reach of British commerce and colonialism at the time. This card then is a window into the complex intersections of commerce, culture, and colonialism that shaped British society and identity.