Medieval Advertising

[Raconteur Troubadour]

Rejecting the dog cart and market barrow solutions, and after years of trying, I have finally made a two-wheel hand cart suitable to pull around as a trader at events. It's light enough to negotiate small slopes even when loaded up with all of my trading stuff (weapons, bowls. goblets, jewellery, leatherwork etc) and means I can go where the crowds are rather than being stuck next to the loos at the back end of the trading field. At night I cover it up with a pegged-down canvas and sleep underneath (really getting in to the authentic lifestyle thing).
The trouble is that at the few events i've done so far, people have seen me as a demonstrator rather than as a trader and i'd like to shift some stock now and again (it makes pulling a quarter of a ton around more worthwhile). I need the medieval equivalent of a 'stop me and buy one' sign, but I can't find any historical info....even finding info on carts was difficult. (I suppose as most people couldn't read it would have to be some kind of symbol).....any ideas?

[Neil of Ormsheim]

Vocalise! Up to the georgian and early Victorian eras the vast majority of "street" traders like you are portraying would have, probably, relied on their voice to advertise their presence and their wares. Up until then, litteracy was relatively restricted - which is why "fixed" retail outlets developed their distinctive pictoral signs. Itinerant traders would be unlikely to use these as they need to be up in the air for people to be able to see them and that would be difficult from a cart.

[Sophia]

Though they are C18th you might want to look at Francis Wheatley's Cries of London. You could also perhaps look at Jost Amman's book of trades, to see if that offers any information.