Printers Nᵒ.2: Henry Butler (fl. 1719-1758) & His Ballads

Cupid's Cabinet, p. 1

Henry Butler was a printer in Birmingham between about 1719 and 1758, after which an Esther Butler (probably either his widow or daughter) took over the business. Butler was mainly a printer of ballads, popular songs, such as Cupid's Cabinet Open'd (above and continued below) and ephemeral items, rather than being a book printer. His printing shop was on New Street, probably tucked between the New Street entrance to the Swan Hotel, and what later became the Fountain Inn, not far from High Street. 

A much later illustration (c. 1840) of the section of New Street
Henry Butler's printing establishment was situated.
The Rotunda sits here now.

Local poet, William Shenstone, looked to Butler for his printing needs: ‘I had & have some Thoughts of having my Ballad printed by Butler at Birmingham on ye same Paper & in ye same form wᵗʰ common Ballads. To be call’d ‘James Dawson’s Garland.’ but lest this shou’d happen I beseech yʳ Ladyship to make a secret of its author’.* If Shenstone ever printed this ballad, it has not been found. 

Following are the rest of the pages from Cupid's Cabinet Open'd. Click on the pages to enlarge.

Cupid's Cabinet, p. 2.

Cupid's Cabinet, p. 3.

Cupid's Cabinet, p. 4.

Cupid's Cabinet, p. 5.

Cupid's Cabinet, p. 6.

Cupid's Cabinet, p. 7.

Cupid's Cabinet, p. 8. End of book.

Previous Printer: Nᵒ.1 Matthew Unwin. 

Next Printer: Nᵒ.3 Thomas Warren. 

NOTES 

* Letter from William Shenstone to Lady Luxborough, 18 April 1748, in :The Letters of William Shenstone, ed. by Marjorie Williams (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1939).
More on the Butler ballads here: https://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/birming1.htm

In 1769 Esther Butler & Co. took on William Wild as an apprentice printer for £2.10s. Esther Butler possibly died in 1779.