page_title: Bill George (dog dealer)
section_title: Recognition During His Lifetime
hierarchical_section_title: Bill George (dog dealer) / Recognition During His Lifetime
caption_attribution_description: English: Reproduced from a c.1870s photogravure illustration to Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist
context_page_description: Bill George was a Victorian era dog dealer and well-known character in London, England.
context_section_description: George's celebrity status is confirmed by his appearance in the Punch magazine cartoon shown above. He even claimed to have received visits from foreign royalty. Apparently Charles Dickens paid him visits when researching Bill Sikes’ dog, Bull’s Eye (portrayed by illustrator Fred Barnard as a Bulldog) in Oliver Twist (1837-39).
  He was proud that a letter sent to “Bill George, Devil’s Castle, Bloodhound Corner, Tyke Lane, London” reached him, but disappointed when one sent to “Mr. Bill George, Dog Fancier, London” was returned to the sender. He is said to have asked the name of the Postmaster General, and, when told it was Lord John Manners, replied, “Tell those fools in the Post Office that if his Lordship don’t know me, I don’t know manners”.
caption: Bill Sikes and Bull's Eye
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