Tim Bobbin

Postal front, 114 x 76mm (4½ x 3in), addressed to Charles Collier, Painter, Kendal. Late 18th century, written in the hand of John Collier, his father, alias Tim Bobbin.

The sentence "The autograph of Tim Bobbin" is in the hand of a later collector or historian, simply confirming Collier's autograph. Many thanks to Ephemera Society member Michael Powell of Chetham's Library, Manchester for his help in establishing the identity of the sender.

John Collier is widely regarded as a pioneer of the Lancashire dialect as a literary vehicle. For most of his working life he was master of the village school of Milnrow, near Rochdale. To supplement his income and support his large family, he taught himself to draw grotesque caricatures, which found a ready sale in local inns, and wrote a number of books and pamphlets on local themes under the pseudonym of Tim Bobbin.

Above from 101 Treasures of Chetham's.