[ London Times ]
This newspaper, most correctly known simply as The Times, began publication in 1785 and continues to this day.
The edition of May 13, 1836 carried the following "for sale" notice. An ad selling Newfoundlands (and other dogs) from the same address appeared in The Times a few months prior to this one. This is, surely, another in the series of advertisements placed by the London dog dealer (and stable-keeper) John Stephen Pardy, who again seems to be on the verge of relocating:
NEWFOUNDLAND and other valuable DOGS, at any sacrifice, the premises being let. Alpine mastiffs, Labrador dogs, fancy spaniels, terriers, some splendid Newfoundlands, male and female, the young Giant Dog, and some whelps got by him, very large and handsome. Country and shipping orders supplied at their own prices. Accommodation given. — Stables, 11, Frederick-street, Albany-street, Colosseum. Letters free.
The May 31, 1836 edition of The Times carried a very similar announcement featuring the same address:
HORSES and DOGS, Harness, Sadlery, etc. — . . . . some splendid Newfoundlands and whelps, bred from the Giant dog. . . . — Albany stables, Frederick-street, Coloseum. Go up either Albany or Osnaburgh-street.
Note that in the third advertisement in this series, immediately below, the Newfoundlands for sale are now again referred to as the whelp of the "the royal giant dog," the same phrase that appeared in a series of very similar advertisements beginning in 1834 (you can see them here at The Cultured Newf. This is a clear indication the seller is John Stephen Pardy.
The third in this series of advertisments appeared in The Times a week after the second, on July 8:
HORSES and DOGS, at any sacrifice, must be cleared immediately: — . . . . Also a matchless collection of Newfoundlands, and some fine whelps, by the royal giant dog, at three guineas a brace. Country orders supplied. — Stables, 14, Frederick-street, Colosseum, up Osnaburgh-street.
A few weeks later, on July 21, 1836, appeared another ad featuring the same address, but this time with the claim that the Newfoundlands for sale are the get of Bashaw, the Newf whose portrait was painted by Sir Edwin Landseer and who was crafted as a statue by Matthew Cotes Wyatt. Whether Bashaw truly was the sire of these dogs, or whether this dog dealer was simply something of a huckster, I cannot determine. It does not make sense that one week the father would be "the royal giant dog" and a couple weeks later he would be Bashaw; Bashaw's owner, John William Ward, 1st Earl of Dudley, was a nobleman (and politician, including foreign secretary), but not a member of the royal family. It may also be worth point out that the Earl of Dudley died three years before this advertisement was published. At the same time, you can see in the advertisement for October 14, below, that Bashaw is directly identified as one of the dogs for sale, so it may be that this dealer was liquidating the canine part of the Earl of Dudley's estate.
DOGS. — Purveyor to His Majesty, etc. — A matchless COLLECTION of SPORTING DOGS, broken and trained expressly to prevent disappointment for noblemen and gentlemen proceeding to the moors; warranted, and any trial allowed. Some splendid Newfoundlands and Whelps, got by the Great Bashaw and others of rare and valuable species. Orders supplied and delivered free of conveyance through England, Ireland, and Scotland. — Albany stables, Frederick-street, Albany-street, Colosseum. Letters free.
(Pardy will again claim, in an ad that ran on March 8, 1837, in The Times, that he is selling puppies sired by Bashaw.)
Again a few weeks later, on August 5, a very similarly-worded ad appears in the Times, this time with no mention of Bashaw, although it does indicate the dogs have been relocated from the Albany stables to another one more convenient.
SPORTING DOGS. — Purveyor to His Majesty, etc. — Noblemen and gentlemen may select from the most splendid COLLECTION, including some fine lofty pointers and setters, broken and trained expressly for the moors, warranted and trials allowed. Also just imported some matchless Newfoundlands, also a litter of fine whelps by the giant dog, etc. Country orders supplied. — At the stables, 2, Southampton-mews, Southampton-row, Russell-square, removed from the Albany stables for the convenience of purchasers. Letters free.
August 18 brings another advertisement of Newfoundlands for sale, from the same address and with the same high-flown language and extravagant claims:
NEWFOUNDLAND and SPORTING DOGS etc. — an unrivalled COLLECTION is now offered to the public. . . . The Newfoundlands were bred from the Royal Giant Dog, and are known for their gigantic properties and sagacity over half the globe. — Stables, 2, Southampton-mews, Southampton-row, Russell-square. Letters free.
A similar ad ran on August 26 in the Times, emphasizing sporting dogs though still referencing Newfoundlands, albeit in a very low-key way. The address is the same "Southampton-mews" address as in the previous ad, and the language is verges on huckster:
POINTERS, Setters, Retrievers, etc. — "His Majesty's Ministers, the Lords and Commoners of this realm, Captains, and others going abroad, and every sportsman in the United Kingdom, should select from a matchless COLLECTION of SPORTING DOGS, warranted to back and stand, drop to hand, and fetch their game. Also some splendid Newfoundland Dogs, Mastiffs, etc. — Stables, 2 Southampton-mews, Southampton-row, Russell-square. Letters free.
Another ad very similar to the one just above ran on September 2, 1836, again with emphasis on the sporting dogs and with only a simple reference to "magnificent Newfoundlands." The address is the same Southampton-mews address as above.
Another ad from Pardy ran on September 15, and again mentions Newfoundlands but this time as being fresh off the boat from Newfoundland. The address has shifted back to the Frederick Street address that appeared in the first several advertisements discussed on this page.
SPORTING DOGS, just from the Moors, the property of a gentleman whose shooting has terminated by an accident. . . . Also some splendid young Newfoundlands, direct from St. John's. — Stables, 14, Frederick-street, Colosseum, up Osnaburgh-street. Letters free.
Another advertisement in this series ran the very next day, September 16, 1836:
HORSES and DOGS. — On SALE or EXCHANGE. . . . Also some splendid young Newfoundlands, very sagacious, and unrivalled for tricks and water. . . . Apply at the stables, 14, Frederick-street, Colosseum, up Osnaburgh-street. Country and shipping orders supplied. Letters free.
In the October 14, 1836, edition of The Times another advertisement from Pardy appears, this one very striking for the fact one of the dogs offered for sale is identified as Bashaw:
DOGS. —— Important Sale. —— The bloodhound ROLLA, known as the largest, handsomest, and most highly bred dog; also that unrivalled and splendid Newfoundland the Young Bashaw, late the property of a nobleman deceased; also, at my price, some highly broke Sporting Dogs, and some fine Newfoundlands direct from St John's. Must be cleared immediately. . . . Stables, 14, Frederick-street, Colosseum, up Osnaburgh-street. Letters free.
Bashaw's owner, the Earl of Dudley, died three years prior to the publication of this ad, so "lately the property..." seems a bit odd. Also curious is that the dog is identified as "the Young Bashaw." Does this mean this was perhaps a son of the original Bashaw, the one painted by Landseer and sculpted by Wyatt? It certainly cannot be the case that Bashaw himself could accurately be described as "young": Landseer's portrait of him was completed in 1827, and Bashaw appears to be a mature if young adult in that painting, so by the time of this advertisement the original Bashaw, if he were even still alive, would have to be at least 10 years old.
Pardy will, after the above ad was published, go silent for a couple of months, but will return in December of 1836 with more Newfoundlands for sale. Go here for more on our huckstering seller of Newfoundlands.