Antique Image of the Day: A Photo of a “Punch and Toby” Show, 1860

The Victoria & Albert Museum

Taken in 1860 by an unknown photographer, this image gives us a rare glimpse of a “Punch & Judy” show of the mid-Victorian period as performed on the streets of London.
To be more accurate, this show is labeled as a “Punch and Toby” show which chronicles the adventures of Mr. Punch and his dog either before marrying Judy or after murdering her. The crowd in attendance seems quite engrossed. Though not pictured here, by this point in history, the Dog Toby would have been portrayed by a puppet rather than a live dog as was the practice in earlier incarnations of the show.