Phoebe Hessel : Early 19th Century Woodcut, Brighton Female Soldier, died 1821, aged 108.
Unframed Print. Very Good Condition. Item #373289
Phoebe Hessel (or Hassel), born Smith (March 1713-December 12, 1821), is renowned for masquerading as a man to join the British Army, enlisting in the 5th Regiment of Foot to fight alongside her partner. She remained undetected as a soldier for 17 years, serving as a soldier in both the West Indies and Gibraltar, and both she and her lover participated in the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745, where Phoebe sustained a bayonet injury to her arm. She passed away on December 12, 1821, at the age of 108 and was interred in the graveyard of St Nicholas Church in Brighton. She was occasionally called the 'Stepney Amazon'. Amazon Street and Hessel Street, named in her honor, still exist in Stepney, now part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. This wood engraving, on a single sheet, with a likely contemporary (or near so) handwritten caption, measures approx. 15.5 cms x 19cms, with the image approx 8 x 8 cms. The top margin has an old creased fold. See picture. Category: PRINTS : Antiquarian Interest; PRINTS : Historic Interest; Special Interest. This item may require more postage than the rates shown for delivery outside the UK. If extra postage is required we will contact you before processing your order and you will be given the details and option to decline the extra cost.
Keywords: BZDB395 "Female Soldiers, Military Impostors, Georgian Prints, Brighton History, Centenarians, Women in Uniform" PRINTS : Antiquarian Interest; PRINTS : Historic Interest; Special Interest. PHOEBE HESSEL (1713-1821), FEMALE SOLDIER, BATTLE OF FONTENO
Price: £99.95