Unknown master - NIEUWJAARS ZEEGENWENSCH DOOR DE STADS KLAPWAAKERS.... [Wish card, New Year]

New year's wish card, woodcut and letterpress published in Leiden in 1784. This broadside is dedicated to the inhabitants of the city by the corporation of the 'Slapwaakers', nocturnal guards, protecting the city during the night. Two guards are in fact represented on the top of the page, along with their dogs. They carry a spear in one hand and on the other the 'klap', a sort of ratchet (rattle), both tools of their work. The klapwakers would discourage any thief or prowler spot in the night, by playing the rattle, which can be a very noisy instrument. With it they announced the hour during the night. The spear was also an item for protection. Between the two guards the arms of the city of Leiden with the two keys. Titled above: 'NIEUWJAARS ZEEGENWENSCH DOOR DE STADS KLAPWAAKERS, / Aan de Ed. MAGISTRAAT, BURGERS en INWOONDERS der Stadt Leyden... '; on the bottom a song for the new year which could be sung on the same tune of the famous: 'Adieu schoon Roselinde'; at the bottom of the page the address of the publisher: 'Gedrukd bij de WEDUWE VAN WILLEM BOOT, in de Sonneveldsteeg.'l Broadside sheet, woodcut and letterpress on paper wih margins, in passepartout; total: 402 x 340; traces of folding and some dirt along the margins, otherwise in very good conditions.