[W. James Rae & Co., Coach Builders, MIdland Works, Banbury.] Attractive handbill notice [by Banbury printers Cheney & Son], with engraving of factory, within a gold border, announcing 'alterations' made to meet 'the increase in our Carriage Trade'.

Printed in brown within a decorative gold border, on one side of a piece of 25.5 x 20.5 cm light-blue paper. Nearly fine. Heading in fancy type reading 'W. JAMES RAE & CO., | Coach Builders.', with 5.5 x 11 cm engraving of the Midland Works beneath it. Beneath the engraving the text is laid out in the form of a letter, beginning: 'We beg to inform you that owing to the increase of our Carriage Trade, we have been compelled to make alterations to meet the space required, and are now prepared to undertake Carriage-Work in all its Branches; employing, as we do, only good tradesmen in each department first-class workmanship is guaranteed.' Scarce: no copy traced on either COPAC or WorldCat. The printers' details are not given, but the item comes from the archive of Cheney & Sons, 'General, Commercial & Artistic Printers, Banbury'. (John Cheney's calling card describes him as a 'Printer in Gold, Silver, and Colours', with 'Specialities in the best class of work.') For more about the firm see 'John Cheney and his descendants, printers in Banbury since 1767' (1936) and the Victoria County History volume for the County of Oxford, Banbury Hundred.