This sheet was originally published by John Kilby Green and later republished by Benjamin Pollock.
John Redington (1819–1876) opened a theatrical print warehouse at 73 Hoxton Street in 1851, describing himself as a “Printer, Bookbinder and Stationer; Tobacconist; and Dealer in miscellaneous articles.” He acted as agent for toy‑theatre publisher John Kilby Green, and on Green’s death in 1860 he purchased all of Green’s engraved copper plates. Redington continued the business until his own death in 1876, after which his widow, son William and daughter Eliza maintained the shop, eventually leaving Eliza in sole charge.
Eliza Redington married Benjamin Pollock in 1877, and together they ran the Hoxton Street shop. Pollock inherited the combined stock of Green and Redington, republishing their plays and sheets under the imprint “B. Pollock”, often using the original plates with only the actor names updated. This continuity of material helped establish Pollock as the most recognisable name in toy‑theatre publishing.
Toy‑theatre sheets were traditionally sold “Penny Plain” or “Tuppence Coloured”, allowing families to buy them either uncoloured for home painting or ready‑finished.
