Token for Thomas Hall.

The obverse depicts a full length figure of a woman in European dress, with the legend: 'MRS NEWSHAM THE WHITE NEGRESS'. The reverse has the legend: 'TO BE HAD AT THE CURIOSITY HOUSE CITY ROAD', as well as the inscription: 'NEAR FINSBURY SQUARE, LONDON 1795'.

Mrs Amelia Lewsam (or Newsham) 'The white Negro woman' was brought from Jamaica in 1754 aged about 5 and was offered for sale as 'the greatest Phaenomenon ever known' priced 400 guineas. A year later she was exhibited at Charing Cross with a cost of 1 shilling per head to gawp at her. She was described as having 'all the features of an Aethiopian with a flaxy woollen head, a skin and complexion fair as alabaster'. She was 'exhibited' again at the Bartholemew Fair in 1788 (Fryer, 1984).

Thomas Hall was a taxidermist, curiosity dealer and proprietor of a fine exhibition of stuffed birds, etc. These trade tickets advertised his curiosities on exhibit at Finsbury Square and also touring at Bartholemew Fair, an event renowned for its theatrical booths. It was at Bartholemew's Fair that he made use of such human exhibits as Mrs Newsham.