Puppets and puppet shows in the 18th century

This notebook page is an expansion of a section from the 18th century toys page on my old website. Over here, you’ll find extant puppets and puppet theaters, as well as artwork & illustrations depicting puppet shows. The old site also has a few medieval puppets.

I’m adding a section of descriptions of puppet shows, mostly from 18th century newspapers. I’ve been finding this to be challenging – I’m trying to avoid descriptions that satirize current events that the newspapers’ readers would have instantly understood – but a modern reader might assume were actual puppet shows. Politicks in Miniature: Or, the Humours of Punch's Resignation, A Tragi-Comi-Farcical-Operatical Puppet Show, for example, is meant to be read as a satire about Robert Walpole rather than as a puppet show for children.