Unattributed “The Ram.” From "Universal Magazine"

Unattributed. “The Ram.”  From Universal Magazine.

London, ca. 1780. Engraving.  Excellent condition.

Beginning in 1731, monthly news magazines made their appearance in Britain.  These magazines, with such names as Gentleman’s Magazine and London Magazine, contained poetry, prose, and articles on events, fashions, personalities, and other items of the day that might be of interest to the English gentleman.  One of their most popular, and historically important, features was the inclusion of prints and maps to accompany their articles.  The Universal Magazine, founded in 1747, issued a series of maps of the American “colonies” during the Revolution, and prints of inventions and important figures in current events as well as images of natural history, such as this handsome ram.