[ Brandenbourg House Masquerade, 1794. ] Engraved ticket of admission, with illustration by Bartolozzi from E. F. Burney and crested seal in red wax.

A scarce and unusual item. On one side of a piece of 11 x 15 cm paper. Laid down on 13 x 17 cm paper backing. Aged and creased, with three evenly-spaced vertical folds. The illustration, at the centre of the ticket, is captioned 'MISCUIT UTILE DULCI', and depicts two naked cherubs, one with a Mercury helmet, playing with books and lyre. Beneath, in small letters, 'E. F. Burney del.' and 'F. Bartolozzi sculps.' To the right of the engraving is a crested seal in red wax. Above the engraving: 'BRANDENBOURG HOUSE MASQUERADE | Monday the 24th. of February at Eleven o'Clock'. At foot of ticket: 'Nobody admitted without Masks,or with Black Dominos | Each ticket will admit a Lady and Gentleman coming together.' Date '1794' in manuscript at head, and at bottom left 'Le Cte. d'Aleby [le Comte d'Alby?]'. Provenance given on reverse of mount, in manuscript: 'Ex Coll. J. Duffos 1840'. A copy of the present item is in the Museum of London, whose description tentatively dates it to 1800, adding: ' At this time Brandenburg House was inhabited by Charles Alexander, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach and his second wife, Elizabeth Craven, Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach. The couple lived an opulent life in Hammersmith [sic] although they were snubbed by Alexander's cousin, King George III, and people mindful of their reputations.' Brandenburg House was built in the seventeenth-century by Sir Nicholas Crispe.