It was an eye-catching image to persuade shoppers not to miss the many bargains on sale at a leading Oxford store.

The picture of the donkey is one of 50 from the St Ebbe’s and St Thomas districts of the city at an exhibition at the Westgate library until October 6.

F Cape and Co, drapers in St Ebbe’s Street, had a reputation as the shop where you could buy anything.

Hats, gloves, lingerie, sheets and shirts competed for space with hardware, crockery, luggage, stationery and furniture.

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Cape’s stocked the odds and ends you couldn’t buy anywhere else. And if the item wasn’t in stock, the friendly staff would do their best to get it. When customers paid, the assistant shot the money by elastic catapult to the cashier. Change came back the same way.