William Elwes.

Crib uncorking Blackstrap.

9 x 13 inches

A hand coloured etching by William Elwes, published in London by Thomas Tegg in 1811.

A tremendously raucous tavern scene in which we see the famous English prize fighter, Thomas Cribb (1781-1841), celebrating his victory over his American rival Tom Molineaux (1784-1818). The head of Molineaux appears inside a bottle from which Cribb is pulling a cork. Molineaux was a black, bare knuckle boxer from Virginia in the United States and "Blackstrap" refers to a poor quality, sweet port drunk at the time, a satirical reference to his weakness in the ring. The fight took place in Thistleton Gap in Leicestershire on the 28th of September 1811, the second time the two had met and resulted in a resounding victory for Cribb who bagged the £600 prize money and broke Molineaux's jaw to boot! Captain Barclay (presumably in his cups) stands on a table to the rear of the scene and raises a toast to "The Milling Champion at Thistleton Gap". Many others accompany him, shouting and cheering and emptying the contents of the punch bowl.

£450