WWI “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” Printed Cotton Souvenir Handkerchief

An original First World War printed cotton souvenir handkerchief celebrating the iconic wartime song It’s a Long Way to Tipperary. Produced as a patriotic memento, the handkerchief features a central circular scene of marching British soldiers beneath a banner titled Tipperary, with musical notation and lyrics printed above and below. Surrounding panels depict narrative vignettes from the song, including scenes of departure, longing and correspondence, with banners reading It’s a Long, Long Way to Tipperary and Sung by the Soldiers of the King.

The lower margin bears the printed credit Copyright for all countries by B. Feldman & Co and By arrangement with Messrs. B. Feldman & Co, Arthur Street, London W.C., firmly dating the piece to wartime commercial production. These souvenir handkerchiefs were widely sold during the First World War as keepsakes rather than for practical use and were often kept, framed or displayed.

A highly evocative and decorative piece of WWI social history, appealing to collectors of militaria, wartime ephemera and period textiles.