The Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) in London has acquired an historic Punch and Judy archive.

The paper archive been acquired by the nation through the Acceptance in Lieu (AIL) scheme and allocated to the V&A. The scheme, administered by the Museums Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), is one of the primary ways of ensuring that important cultural treasures pass into the UK's public collections.

The George Speaight archive is a significant record that traces the development of Punch and Judy from the earliest performances in the Restoration era of the marionette puppet Mr Punch who was controlled using wires and strings.

The archive tracks Mr Punch's 18th century reinvention as glove puppetry in fairground booths and on London streets and the enduring popularity of Punch and Judy during the 20th century, especially as seaside entertainment.

The archive includes rare books, scripts, music covers, prints and drawings, lantern slides, newspaper cuttings and research notes from the UK and abroad.

Highlights include the earliest known Victorian bioscope photography of a Punch and Judy show, coloured prints from the 1790s, and early 19th century print material including Pug's Visit and the Disasters of Mr Punch of 1806 as well as a wealth of 20th century material.