Extremely fine, close to about uncirculated. Choice
Brown. According to the popular story, the beautiful
Lady Godiva took pity on the people of Coventry, who
were suffering grievously under her husband's oppressive
taxation.
Lady Godiva appealed again and again to her husband,
who obstinately refused to remit the tolls. At last,
weary of her entreaties, he said he would grant her
request if she would ride naked through the streets
of the town. Lady Godiva took him at his word and,
after issuing a proclamation that all persons should
keep within doors or shut their windows, she rode
through, clothed only in her long hair. Only one person
in the town, a tailor ever afterwards known as Peeping
Tom, disobeyed her proclamation in one of the most
famous instances of voyeurism.
In the story, Tom bores a hole in his shutters so
that he might see Godiva pass, and is struck blind.
In the end, Godiva's husband keeps his word and abolishes
the onerous taxes.
|