London Labour and the London Poor

Mayhew opens Volume 2 by continuing to explore street sellers’ lives, focusing on vendors who sell secondhand goods. The distinction between firsthand and secondhand commerce serves as a foundation for understanding the unique nature of the trade. The discussion then delves into the categories within the secondhand trade. These include metal goods such as tools, utensils, locks, and keys. Another category is secondhand textiles, such as old sheets, curtains, carpeting, and blankets. In discussing the sellers of secondhand glassware and ceramics, Mayhew highlights the impact of the availability of cheaper new glassware on these sellers. He then shifts to secondhand clothing, which includes garments and accessories for different genders and age groups, shedding light on how individuals from various walks of life embrace frugality and resourcefulness to meet their clothing needs. Additionally, Mayhew touches on more specialized trades within the secondhand realm, such as musical instruments, pistols, and curiosities.

This section discusses street sellers, primarily men, involved in sporting and vagrant activities, such as bird catching and dog selling. Mayhew delves into dog stealing, touching on the network of thieves, restorers, and buyers who exploited emotional attachments to demand ransoms for stolen dogs. The author describes how the decline of especially brutal sports involving dogs, like bear baiting and bull baiting, gave way to other forms of entertainment, such as theater, and the