Background

The printed billhead evolved in the 18th century and was the forerunner of the modern day letterhead. Early examples did not have column rulings for items & cash, these were later added either as part of the printing process or separately. Text was often embellished with an illustration and often showed the shop sign or, on later examples, the product sold. Until recently billheads carried the inscription 'Bought of', 'Bot. of' or 'Bt. of' and sometimes 'Dr. to' (Debtor to). They also had the town name and date. Billheads were normally stored on a wire 'billspike' and many surviving examples have the distinctive hole. Early examples were printed on good quality paper, often watermarked, but by the 1860's inferior wood pulp paper began to be used. The 'art-style' designs of the 1880's brought a plethora of fancy types with ornamentation and coloured paper being used, usually blue, pale green and pink, though yellow examples also exist. Billheads provide much evidence for local, social, commercial and industrial historians, as well as family history buffs looking for the lost traces of the family business. *

This is the link page to our collection of Roscommon billheads dating from the late 1800’s. We have about 350 billheads collected to date. Some are illustrated, but many are not. Billheads are often a nostalgic link with the past (especially if "your people" were in business! You know that "eureka" feeling you get when you discover a billhead or document related to one of your ancestors?) We welcome additions. If you have any old billheads that you no longer need, please contact us.

We have listed billheads by town and village.

Follow the link for Athleague, Ballaghaderreen, Ballintubber, Ballybeg (Strokestown), Ballyfarnon, Ballyforan, Ballygar (Roscommon), Boyle, Carniska (Strokestown), Castlecoote, Castleplunkett, Castlerea, Cloonagh (Strokestown), Clooncullane (Strokestown), Creggs (Roscommon), Doughal (near Ballyleague), Elphin, Fairymount, Four Mile House (Kilbride), Four Roads, Frenchpark, Kilmore, Kilrooskey, Knockcroghery, Lecarrow, Roscommon Town: A to E, Roscommon Town: F to L, Roscommon Town: M & N, Roscommon Town: O to Z, Rooskey (Ruskey), Slatta (Scramoge), Strokestown: A to K, Strokestown: L to Z, Tarmonbarry, Taughmaconnell, Tulsk.

New additions always welcome!

SPECIAL PLEA FOR HELP: If anyone has the billhead for (P.J. or Paddy / Patrick) McDermott of Portrun (or Portrunny) would they please get in touch. We would like to get a copy (original or image) of this billhead for the family.

* First published in "Roscommon Life 2005-2006". Reference: Rickards, Maurice. "Collecting Printed Ephemera" Oxford 1988.