Gillray caricatures

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James Gillray.
Generally accepted to be the greatest of all English Caricaturists, and the recent exhibition at the Tate Gallery in London, showed the range of his work.
Initially he worked for a number of different publishers, but from the 1790’s he worked exclusively for Humphreys.
Record prices, (up to £12,000 for the “Plum Pudding”), have recently been made, many will sell for £1000 and upwards. Most of the Gillray images on the market come from the mid 19th century re-printings, have recent colour and are of low value. None of these later printings will be sold on this site.

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Gillray. Sketch of the Interior of St. Stephens, as it now Stands.
Published March 1st 1802. by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James’s Street.
10 x 14. Original colour with very small margins.
Addington stands in the House. Abbott is the Speaker.
This is a satire on the inadequacy of the Ministry.
B. M. 9843.
£370.

Gillray. FORTUNE HUNTING.
Published, November 20th 1804 by H. Humphrey, No. 27 St. James’s Street, London.
15 x 10. Good original colour with small margins. Old glue marks and slight damage on both right hand corners. On paper with a partial watermark of 1804.
An elderly fat gentleman is having his fortune told by a ragged old gipsy. Behind him, another gipsy is picking his pocket. Further into the woods is the groom who is also having his fortune told, this time by a very attractive young girl. Whilst the groom is thus occupied, so a young boy is rifling the contents of the bags on the horse.
B. M. 10301.
£650.

James Gillray. an illustrious Character.
Published Nov 1st 1802 by H. Humphrey. 27. St James’s Street.
8 x 10 with good original colour and good margins.
An unflattering caricature-portrait of the Duke of Clarence.
B. M. 9910.
£250.

Gillray. A Cockney & his wife going to Wycombe.
Published June 10th 1805 by H. Humphrey. 27 St James’s Street.
14½ x 10. Original colour with good margins.
On the side of the gig is a pestle and mortar suggesting that the occupant is an apothecary.
B. M. 10471.
£360.

Gillray. Political Amusements for Young Gentlemen. – or, - The Old Brentford Shuttlecock, between Old Sarum & the Temple of St. Steevens.
Published March 15th 1801, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James’s Street.
14¼ x 10. Very good original colour with reasonable margins.
Horne Tooke is the shuttlecock that Lord Temple and Lord Camelford are hitting. The feathers of the shuttlecock say; Deceit, Vanity, Jacobinism, New Morality, Envy.
Lord Camelford owned a borough with only seven electors, and thus could determine who would become the member, he decided on Horne Tooke. Lord Temple opposed his return to Parliament on the basis that as a member of the clergy he was barred from the Commons. Horne Tooke claimed that as he was no longer a vicar, and as he was now a layman that he should take his seat. Behind Temple is the door of St. Steevens and the opposition benches can be seen.
B.M. 8716.
£1200.

James Gillray. A GREAT MAN OF THE TURF – or – sir Solomon in all his Glory.
Published July 7th 1803.by H. Humphrey, 27, St James’s Street.
10 x 13¾. Original colour with small margins. There is, in the top right corner, a repair, which is just touching the grey wash area.
‘Sir Solomon’ was a noted race horse. The standing figure is the Duke of Bedford.
B. M. 10164.
£480.

James Gillray. THE MILITARY CARICATURIST.
Published Dec. 6th 1799. by H. Humphrey No 27 St James’s Street.
9½ x 14. Original colour with large margins.
General Davies, a well-known amateur caricaturist was said to have spoken slightingly of Gillray. Here he is shown with crude prints on the wall, and a bottle of quack medicine on the table. Beneath the title is, “his satires are as keen as the back of a Rasor; - and having but Three Ideas in the World, Two of them borrow’d, - & the Third, nobody else would own.”
B. M. 9442.
£1,000.

Gillray. BONUS MELIOR OPTIMUS.
Published April 22nd 1783 by W.Humphrey. This is a reissue on 1820`s paper, and although coloured at the time of issue the price is, about one quarter of what an earlier issue would be - even though the Humphrey publishing firm was still in operation at this date. 14 x 10 with large margins. Coloured at the time of issue. The three characters are, Fox, North, and the Devil.
B.M. 6219.
£140.

J. Gillray. Preparing for the Grand Attack, - or – a Private Rehearsal of – “The ci-devant Ministry in danger.”
Published by H. Humphrey 27 St. James’s Street. December 4th 1801.
13¾ x 10. Good original colour with small margins on three sides and trimmed onto/within the plate mark below the title.
Burdett reads out a speech, which Fox holds up. Besides Fox are Sheridan and the seated Horne Tooke who is wearing a bonnet rouge. The scroll is headed Ministerial Crimes & Misdemeanours. The list goes on to list many of the supposed faults of Pitt’s administration. Some time after this print, Burdett did move a motion of enquiry. There is a suggestion given by the date on this print that Gillray may have had private sources of information possibly from Canning.
B. M. 9739.
£1250.

Gillray. John Bull and the Sinking Fund – a P(r)etty scheme for Reducing the Taxes & paying off the National Debt.
Published Feb. 29th 1807, by H Humphrey 27 St. James’s Street.
13¾ x 9¾. Original colour with large margins. A line just outside the image resulting from an old mount.
Petty stands above the kneeling John Bull throwing guineas towards the members of the government who stand in front of the Treasury. On the other side are members of the Pittite opposition.
This relates to Petty’s “New Plan of Finance”
B. M. 10704.
£800.

Set of 12.
Gillray. A complete set of twelve ‘French Habits’. Published c.1798, by H. Humphrey. With very good original colour. All have small margins. Some marks on the plates, but only minor ones.
The officials of the Directory had costumes designed by David. There was much negative comment on these designs, and here Gillray has taken the correct designs, and then added his own flourishes. Thus in plate 1. Fox’s dress is approximately correct, except the hat and feathers are much exaggerated to make the overall effect more magnificent.
Plate 1. Fox. BM 9196.
Plate 2. Lansdown, Norfolk and Grafton. BM. 9197.
Plate 3. Stanhope followed by Derby, Lauderdale, M. A. Taylor and Grey. BM. 9198.
Plate 4. Bedford. BM. 9199.
Plate 5. Horne Tooke. BM. 9200.
Plate 6. Tierney. BM. 9201.
Plate 7. Erskine. BM. 9208.
Plate 8. Sir George Shuckburgh. BM. 9209.
Plate 9. Courtney. BM. 9210.
Plate 10. Nicolls. BM. 9211.
Plate 11. Sir William Pulteney. BM. 9212.
Plate 12. Sir Francis Burdett. BM. 9213.
£2650. The complete set of 12.

Gillray. PATRIOTS deciding a Point of Honor! - or – an exact Representation of the celebrated Rencontre which took place at Combe -Wood on May 2nd 1807 – between Little – Paul the Taylor, & Sir Francis Goose.
Published May 4th 1807 by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James Street.
9½ x 13½. Good original colour, trimmed to the image.
A duel between a goose, with the head of Burdett and Paull dressed as a tailor. Both pistols have been fired, the bullets hitting both on their legs. Burdett is saying; What must I be out! – a Taylor get in, to Parliament! – You’re a Liar! – I never said that I would sit as Chairman on your Shopboard!!!
To which Paull replies; a Liar1 – Sir I’m a Taylor & a Gentleman! – and I must have Satisfaction!
Between the two duellists lie two papers, ‘Sir Francis Goose’s letter to the Electors at the Crown & Anchor’ and ‘Mr Pauls Advertisements’. In the foreground near Paull lies a (green) bag disgorging a bundle of papers inscribed Westminster Election Paul, beside it are a cabbage and cucumbers with two papers; ‘Dangers of indulging Political Envy by Sir F… Goose’ and ‘Cobbetts Charature of Paul the Taylor May 2nd 1807’.
B.M. 10725.
£460.

Gillray. A Welch Tandem.
Published June 21sst 1801 – by H. Humphrey. No.27 St. James’s Street.
14¼ x 10¼. Original colour and very small margins. A faint vertical crease.
Three brothers – Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Charles and Henry his brothers.
B. M. 9760.
£800.

Gillray. Inspecting a Volunteer Corps, in Hyde Park.
Published December 4th 1803, by H. Humphrey, 27- St. James’s Street - London.
10¼ x 8. Reasonable original colour, with large margins, on paper with a watermark of 1811.
The Earl of Harrington sits erect on horseback in profile, his left leg thrust out awkwardly. He is wearing a huge cocked hat and a full-skirted coat. In the background ranks of infantrymen are freely sketched, they are firing their muskets and are partially concealed by clouds of smoke. Harrington (1753 – 1829) was gazetted general in 1803.
B.M. 10165.
£250.

James Gillray. A Slice of Glo’ster Cheese.
Published June 29th 1795 by H. Humphrey No 37 New Bond Street.
5 x 10. Good original colour with large margins, and with a watermark of 1794.
A caricature-portrait of William Frederick of Gloucester, (1776 – 1834). Below the plate mark is a note in a contemporary hand saying who the person is.
B. M. 8716.
£225.

Gillray. Progress of the Toilet.
Plates 1, THE STAYS.
Plate 2, THE WIG.
Plate 3, DRESS COMPLETED.
(The complete Set).
All bear the same publication line Published February 26th 1810, by H. Humphrey, 27 St James’s Street.
Each image 8 x 10. Very good original colour, with large margins.
Plate 1 has a watermark of 1806, and the paper on the other two images is the same as that of Plate 1.
James Gillray engraved this series after the designs of an ‘amateur’. There are many subtle differences in the details of the three images. Just to give one example, the picture on the wall in the top right is ‘Morning’ in plate 1, ‘Noon’ in plate 2, and ‘Evening’ in plate 3.
B.M. 11608, 11609 and 11610.
£1800. (The Set).

James Gillray. THE WOUNDED LION.
Published July 16th 1805. by H. Humphrey 27 St James’s Street.
14¼ x 10¼. Original colour. Thread margins at the sides and trimmed onto/within the plate mark at the top and bottom.
The lion has the face and wig of Melville and he is being fired at by St. Vincent. Some of the blast strikes Britannia in the heart she leans against the tree. Wilberforce is the monkey sitting on the tree on the left and from his backside comes a blast of “Cant!-Envy!-Abuse!-Hypocrisy!-Cruelty!” The lion is also attacked by a fox and a serpent which has the head of Grey.
Melville was being attacked for his implication in the financial scandal that had seen navy funds misused by Trotter who was the Paymaster of the Navy.
B. M. 10421.
£900.

J. Gillray. The State Waggoner and John Bull – or – The Waggon too much for the Donkeys----
Published by H. Humphrey, 27, St. James’s Street, London. March 14th 1804.
14½ x 10½. Reasonable original colour, with small margins.
The title continues: together with, a distant view of the New Coalition among Johnny’s Old Horses.
The cart labelled The British State Waggon 1804 is stuck fast in the mud, as are the eight asses that were trying to pull the cart. This is a satire on the dangerous incompetence of Government, especially in defence and finance, and on the prospect of a new Ministry.
B. M. 10232.
£780.

J. Gillray. The Introduction of the Pope to the Convocation at Oxford, by the Cardinal Broad-Bottom.
Published by H Humphrey, 27, St. James Street, London. December 1st 1809.
14¼ x 10¼. Reasonable original colour, trimmed to the image.
A satire on the approaching election for the Chancellorship of Oxford University. Grenville is dressed as a cardinal. On Portland’s death in October 1809, Grenville and Eldon were candidates. The later supported by the Ministry and the Protestant interest. The Duke of Beaufort was a third candidate. The votes: Grenville 406, Eldon 390, Beaufort 288. “The No-Popery Yell” was said to have ‘completely recoiled on the heads of those who made it.
B. M. 11384.
£300.

James Gillray caricature. Overthrow of the Republican Babel.
Pub. May 1st 1809 by H. Humphrey. 27. St. James’s Street.
12¾ x 15½. Good original colour with small margins. Slight creasing with very slight surface marks.
This satire is an attack on the radicals and the acquittal of the Duke of York after Wardle’s motion was defeated, is here shown as representing the deathblow to reform. In many ways, the opposite happened and the radicals saw this defeat as conformation of the injustice in society, and of the need to intensify their efforts.
B. M. 11327.
£950.

James Gillray. Dreadful Hot Weather.
Published February 10th 1808. By H. Humphrey. 27 St. James’s Street.
8 x 10. Original colour, trimmed to the engraved boarder, with slight marks.
One of the Gillray Weather series.
B. M. 11095.
£195.

Gillray. A PEEP INTO THE CAVE OF JACOBINISM.
Published Sept.1st 1798 by J. Wright, 169 Picadilly for the "Anti-Jacobin Review". 10 x 7 ½. Uncoloured, small margins with the usual folds, as it is an image from the "Anti-Jacobin Review". Very slight staining. Here "Truth" comes forward holding her torch, which shines on "Jacobinism", who is shown as a creature with scaly legs and a long serpent tail.
B.M. 9243.
£100.

James Gillray. BILLY THE GAMEKEEPER. – W. S.
(Publish’d April 23rd 1810. by H. Humphrey 27 St James’s Street.)
10 x 14. Original colour with large margins.
This was after a design by R. Frankland. The gamekeeper has not been identified. This example is before the publication line has been added.
B. M. 11592.
£575.

James Gillray. THE AFFRIGHTED CENTAUR, & LION BRITANIQUE.
Published May 7th 1799. by H. Humphrey. 27 St. James’s Street.
8 x 10¼. Original colour and trimmed onto/within the plate mark, but outside the border.
This is No. 6 of the ‘New Pantheon’ series of leaders of the opposition. Here the centaur with the body of the Duke of Bedford flees in terror from the British lion.
B. M. 9380.
£200.

J. Gillray. Pity the Sorrows of a Poor old Man. Vide, Scene in Bloomsbury Square.
Published by H. Humphrey New Bond Street. February 25th 1796.
9½ x 13½. Good original colour, trimmed onto/ within the plate mark.
In November, the Duke of Bedford had attacked the pension given to Burke. Here Burke is shown wearing tattered clothes and begging at the gate of Bedford’s mansion. On his back is a bag inscribed, £4000 pr Annum indicating his pensions. He is pleading, Pity the Sorrows of a poor Old Man add a trifle to what has been bestowed by Ministry to stop my Complaints:- O give me opportunity of recanting once more……
B. M. 8786.
£780.

James Gillray, POSTING in IRELAND.
Published by H. Humphrey St. James’s Street. April 8th 1805.
15¼ x 11¾. Trimmed onto/within the plate mark, on watermarked paper with a small tear top left, just reaching the picture area.
This is after a design by C. Lorraine Smith, and fits into the genre of London based caricatures of the Irish. With good original colour. The script beneath reads; “Forward immediately your Honour; But sure a’nt I waiting for the Girl with the Poker, just to give this Mare a burn your Honour, tis just to make her start your Honour!”
B. M. 10478.
James Gillray, POSTING IN SCOTLAND.
Published by H. Humphrey St. James’s Street. May 25th 1805.
14¾ x 11¼. Trimmed onto/within the plate mark, good original colour.
This is a design by C. Lorraine Smith, and fits into the genre of London based caricatures of the Scots, a pair to the above.
The script beneath reads; “_Hald your Haund Mun, hald your haund! – en troth mun: en gin you na mind yoursel youl just make the Muckle Laird coupeing his creels.”_
B. M. 10479.
£900. The pair.

James Gillray. Field Marshall Count SUWARROW – ROMNISKOY.
Published May 23rd 1799 by H. Humphrey St. James’s Street. Etched by Js. Gillray. From the Original Drawing taken from Life by Lielthn. Swarts. of the Imperial Regiment of Barco Hussars.
9¾ x 13¾. Reasonable margin at the side’s good margins top and bottom. The print has some very slight creases and has good original colour.
This caricature has no resemblance to engraved portraits of Suvoroff. Gillray used his imagination to depict the villain of Praga. His appearance bore little resemblance to the ‘Barbarian of War’. In fact he was a small man with no moustache and very ordinary clothing. Beneath the image is; “This extraordinary Man is now in the prime of life, - Six Feet, Ten Inches in height, - never tastes either Wine or Spirits; takes but one Meal a day; & every Morning plunges into an Ice Bath; - his wardrobe consists of a plain Shirt, a White Waistcoat & Breeches, short Boots, & a Russian Cloak; he wears no covering on his Head, either by day or night; when tired he wraps himself up in a Blanket & sleeps in the open air; - he has fought 29 pitched Battles, & been in 75 Engagements –".
B. M. 9390.
£600.

James Gillray. FARMER GILES & HIS WIFE shewing off their daughter Betty to their Neighbours, on her return from Schools.
Publish’d January 1st 1809. by H. Humphrey, 27 St James’s Street.
18¼ x 12¼. Original colour, trimmed onto/within the plate mark but outside the image. A small paper loss on one of the curtains, which has been repaired.
Gillray etched this image after a design by an amateur, possibly Col. Braddyll. Although Gillray has elaborated the faces and made the room more fashionable. (The original watercolour is in the print room of the B.M.).
B. M. 11444.
£425.

James Gillray. A broad hint of not meaning to Dance.
Published November 20th. 1804. by H Humphrey No 27 St. James’s Street.
14¾ x 10. Good original colour and trimmed to the border.
The rather foppish young man has obviously asked the pretty young lady for a dance, at the same time he has stood on and torn her dress. She does not want this advance and with chair in hand, she is walking away.
B. M. 13002.
£550.

James Gillray. A Block for the Wigs – or, the new State Whirligig.
Published May 5th 1783 by W. Humphrey. No 227 Strand.
14 x 10. Thread margins and on laid paper.
The bottom of the whirligig is held in place by wedges, “Treasury, Army, Navy”. The King is in the centre and those going around him include Fox, North, Burke, and Keppel.
There are indications within this image that John Bull is being robbed, and there were other satires on the Coalition on this theme.
B. M. 6227.
£300.

James Gillray. THE RECEPTION IN HOLLAND.
Published Sept. 8th 1799 by H. Humphrey, St. James’s Street.
14 x 10¼. Original colour and good margins.
The fat Prince of Orange has just landed and is surrounded by enthusiastic loyal supporters. The frogs join in the welcome and some try to clamber up the Prince’s boots.
B. M. 9414.
£900.