A Tip-Top Living, or the writing captain supported by the world, William Dent, 1787

Topham sits cross-legged on a terrestrial globe, the poles being on the right and left; a band inscribed 'equator - wells' bisects it vertically. He has a plate before him and is cutting up 'characters' with a knife and fork. The cockade in his hat is formed of three crossed pens. He is surrounded by smoke inscribed 'reports' and 'puffs'. Various objects stand on the surface of the globe: an inkstand (on the blacks sea), a moneybag inscribed 'compliment' and labelled 'to the editor' (on the pacific ocean), a decanter of 'port' (on the 'red sea'), a sirloin inscribed 'bull', a (?) leg of mutton inscribed 'ram'. Other places on the map are 'assassins bay', 'cape horn', and 'rogues island'. A curving line touching the equator is inscribed 'ecliptic line - scandal'. 10 june 1787 etching. Date: 1787. Dimensions: Height: 148 mm; Width: 100 mm (corners damaged). Medium: paper. Depicted People: Edward Topham. Collection: British Museum. A Tip-Top Living, or the writing captain supported by the world (BM 1868,0808.5650)