G.Cruikshank caricatures
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George Cruikshank
One of three great names in the caricature area (with Gillray and Rowlandson). He was taught by his father, Isaac, and by 1805 was assisting his father with some of the simpler bits of the copper plates that were being etched. Within a few years, he was producing his own splendid work. The ten years from 1810 on, see him at his best. After 1820 he increasingly turned to illustration (for Dickens, and others), and at roughly the same time his bucolic life style changed and he became committed to the cause of teetotalism.
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click to view large format George Cruikshank. The Rehearsal Or The Baron And The Elephant.
Published January 1st. 1812 by M. Jones 5 Newgate Street.
20¼ x 8. Original colour, trimmed almost to the image at the sides and with the usual folds, as this is an image from the ‘Scourge’.
This is a satire on the Covent Garden pantomime over the winter of 1812-13, which was famous for the performance of an elephant. Baron Geramb is held in the trunk whilst Kemble sits on the back of the elephant, and had been criticised for ignoring the work of the great dramatists in favour of the public’s love of spectacle.
The management of Drury Lane is satirized in a group on the left, and on the right, Mrs Siddons can be seen leaving clutching large moneybags.
B. M. 11935.
£360.
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G. Cruikshank. STALE MATE & CHECK MATE.
Published by G. Humphrey ns7 St. James’s St, 1820.
6½ x 4½. (Both) In original colour and both trimmed to the border.
B. M. 14307 and 14308.
£90 (the pair).
click to view large format G.Cruikshank. Game of Chess.
Published by G. Humphrey 27 St James’s St. June 2. 1820.
6½ x 4½. Original colour and trimmed to the border.
This is a smaller fairly similar design to the larger Cruikshank image, which is usually seen in the McLean reprint of 1835 (Cruikshankiana). This was originally engraved in 1814 (B. M. 12392). This small image has slight variations, for instance one of the seated players now has a gouty leg.
The B.M. reference for this small image is August 1st 1819, though the image is the same
B. M. 13433.
£80. 
click to view large format G. Cruikshank. The Law’s Delay.
Published Jan. 21st 1820 by G. Humphrey 27 St. James’s St.
10 x 8. Original colour and trimmed to the border.
This relates to the Peterloo massacre. The title continues, “Showing the Advantage & Comfort of waiting the Specified time after Reading the Riot Act, to a Radical Mob – or – a British Magistrate in the discharge of his Duty, & the People of England in the Discharge of theirs”.
B. M. 13505.
£145.
click to view large format George Cruikshank. OLD THIRTY NINE shaking hands with his good Brother the Pope of Italy, or Covering up. Versus, Sealing up the Bible.
Published Nov. 15 1819 by G Humphrey. 27 St James’s Street.
14 x 10. Original colour with large margins.
A complex design attacking the Archbishop of Canterbury, seen here grasping the hand of the Pope while pointing at tiny devils. On the right ‘Truth’ stands welcoming small children into school. This print also contrasts the rival educational societies, the British and Foreign School Societies, which stood for nondenominational Bible teaching, the Archbishop supported this society.
B. M. 13276.
£240.
click to view large format George Cruikshank. THE ROOT OF KING’S EVIL.
Originally published in 1820 by G. Humphrey. This is the 1835 reprint, from the original plate and published by T. McLean, as part of ‘Cruikshankiana’.
10¼ x 8¼. Reasonable margins and later colour.
A clerical magistrate is confronted with a radical imp wearing a cap of liberty. On top of the two pikes he holds is the head of a Bishop and on the other a broken royal crown.
Since Peterloo the clerical magistrate had been an object of hatred and derision; and here he is faced by the radical with a list of revolutionary extremists on the banner which is headed “Blood! Blood! Blood!!!!”
B. M. 13503.
£48.
click to view large format G. Cruikshank. Mushroom Monstrosities.
Published by G. Humphrey, 24 St. James’s January 24th 1826.
6½ x 5¼. Good original colour, with very large margins. This was also issued in 1835 with a changed date.
B. M. 15186.
£50.
click to view large format George Cruikshank. THE BLUE DEVILS.
Published by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James’s St. January 10th 1823.
11¾ x 9½. Original colour with reasonable margins. A small repaired hole at the top of his collar.
This is one of the items that were republished with an 1835 date in ‘Cruikshankiana’.
An elaborate engraving with the book titles, pictures and the miniature people all adding to the general feeling of depression.
B. M.14598.
£165.
click to view large format George Cruikshank. The Phoenix of Elba resuscitated by Treason.
Published May 1st by W. N. Jones Newgate St.
14 x 9¾. Original colour, trimmed onto/within the plate mark and with the usual folds as this is a satire from the ‘Scourge’.
An elaborate image combining the return of Napoleon with an attack on Castlereagh for his supposed conduct at Vienna.
In the centre Napoleon emerges from the cauldron. A grotesque and skinny hag, representing Fury says, "Rise Spirit that can never rest…..French generals cheer and applaud".
Around this central image are smaller vignettes. On the upper left, the Regent looks apprehensively at Castlereagh, to counter this image, Wellington on the right, rides
furiously towards Napoleon. He is about to pass Louis XVIII, who flees on a donkey.
In the top right the monarchs of Europe are squabbling over a large ‘cake’.
B. M. 12537
£270.
click to view large format G. Cruikshank. PASSING EVENTS, or The Tail of the Comet of 1853.
Published by D. Bogue 86 Fleet Street.
16 x 8½. Uncoloured. Trimmed onto/within the etched area, but well outside the image.
The tail of the comet has many social and political scenes done in a typical Cruikshank manor.
Not in Douglas.
£80.
click to view large format George Cruikshank. Odds & Ends for February (sic) 1816.
Published February 1 1816 by M. Jones Newgate St
19½ x 8½. Good original colour as this is an image from the ‘Scourge’ thus it has the usual folds.
The central image is of Kean, and underneath is A Kean Manoeuvre to Pay Old Debts – or – Drury is itself again. John Bull holds a goblet, which is overflowing with guineas, and many of the miniature figures below him are holding out bills for payment.
On the left is William Curtis and on the right is Augustus Barry and the sermon and the other allusions derive from him being a rake in orders.
The small image upper left relates to the elopement of Braham and Mrs Wright, and the one in the top right corner shown a gouty Regent, who was at this time laid up with gout in Brighton, thus the Chinoiserie. There is a very small repaired paper loss in the upper section of this image.
B. M. 12714.
£245.
click to view large format George Cruikshank. Nic Alias Nap’s march to Elba or the Downfall of the Napoleon Dynasty.
Published May 1st 1814 by W. N. Jones No 5 Newgate Street.
16 x 8. Original colour and with the usual folds as this is an image from the ‘Scourge’. The top left corner has a stain.
Napoleon sits on a donkey with a noose around his neck and a devil is adjusting the rope. Other members of his family are shown, some angry, some disheartened.
In the front, a servant wheels a barrow full of plunder and three Jews surround him demanding payment for goods provided during Napoleon’s campaigns.
The temple on the left is on the island of Elba.
B. M. 12256.
£275.
click to view large format George Cruikshank. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream –
Published by W. N. Jones No 5 Newgate St July 1st 1815.
19¾ x 8. Original colour with the usual folds for an item from the ‘Scourge’. Trimmed onto/within the plate mark but well outside the image. Between the first and second section the fold has split, and been repaired, but this is clear of both the images.
In the first image the Regent in his bed gazes in terror at a gigantic and confident figure of himself.
In the second image the Regent orders McMahon to drive away his advisors.
In the third section the Regent recoils in horror from the sequel to the dream, which shows the gigantic figure of himself, being demolished by a huge rock, which bears the words “National Debt”.
B. M. 12578.
£160.
click to view large format George Cruikshank. QUARTIERE CON MOBILE –or- Hints on taking Lodgings.
Published by G. Humphrey 27 St. James’s St. June 30th 1821.
9 x 11½. Original colour and trimmed onto/within the plate mark.
This social satire supports the dislike many people have of living in flats.
Not in the B. M.
£140.
click to view large format George Cruikshank. PRINCELY PIETY, OR THE WORSHIPPERS AT WANSTEAD.
Published December 1st 1811 by M Jones 5 Newgate St.
15½ x 8. Original colour with the usual folds. As usual trimmed within the plate mark and on the left fractionally inside the image.
Miss Tylney Long, the very wealthy heiress is on the fantastic throne. Suitors come before her including the Duke of Clarence, who is having a chamber pot emptied over his head by Mrs Jordan with whom he had lived for twenty years.
B. M. 11744.
£145.
click to view large format G. Cruikshank. …. THIS PRINT OF HUNTING A MAYOR (altered to MARE) IS HUMBLY PRESENTED TO HIS L-D-P ON HIS RETIRING FROM OFFICE ‘GOOD RIDDANCE’
Published October 15th 1819 by T. Tegg 111 Cheapside.
13¾ x9½. Original colour, trimmed onto/within the plate mark. An old fold at the bottom of the image.
An ass with the head of the Mayor, John Atkins, gallops away from Henry Hunt and his followers. He had over reacted to Radical protests, which he described as, “an incitement to fire the Metropolis and murder the inhabitants.” Thus the words, “I smell a plot,” issuing from the ass’s mouth.
One trial instigated by Atkins saw Samuel Waddington found innocent. He then published a report of his trial ‘A whip for the hors, a bridle for the ass and a rod for the fool’s back.’
B. M. 13273.
£170.
click to view large format George Cruikshank. PRINCELY AGILITY OR THE SPRAINED ANCLE.
Published January 1812 by J. Johston (sic) 98 Cheapside.
14¾ x 10. Reasonable margins and a water mark of 1811.
The Prince had sprained his ankle at a dance in honour of his daughter. Here he lies in bed, attended by Mrs. Fitzherbert and doctors.
B. M. 11841.
£200.
click to view large format G. Cruikshank. Dignity!
Published by G. Humphrey. 27 St. James’s St. 1820.
7½ x 5½. Uncoloured with good margins.
In June 1820 Humphrey published ‘La Gloire Des Honnettes Gens’ which had four sections, Modesty, Dignity, Chastity and National Love. These were then divided and printed off as separate images.
Caroline and Bergami frown angrily at a naval officer, who says, “…. I shall not degrade myself & the Service by sitting at the table with such a fellow as that.”
See B. M. 13731.
£40.
click to view large format G. Cruikshank. Chastity!
Published by G. Humphrey. 27 St. James’s St. 1820.
7½ x 5½. Uncoloured with good margins. Slight creasing.
In June 1820 Humphrey published ‘La Gloire Des Honnetters Gens’ by Cruikshank, which had four separate images on one plate. These four sections, ‘Modesty, Dignity, Chastity and National Love’ were divided and printed separately.
Bergami and Caroline are embracing each other.
Under the image the text starts, “Chaste as the Icecle….”
See B. M. 13731.
£40.
click to view large format G. Cruikshank. Arrival At The North Pole.
Published by G. Humphrey 27 St. James’s St. February 5th 1818.
5 x 7½. Original colour and trimmed to the engraved border.
This small image shows sailors climbing a small mound carrying a Union Jack and the figure on the right is Ross. He was Commander John Ross (1777-1856) and in 1818 he returned to England from a voyage to explore the North West Passage and in the following year he published ‘A voyage of Discovery’.
See B. M. 13255, although the B. M. example is a reissue of 1835 (from the Cruikshankiana)
£70.
click to view large format G. Cruikshank. The Sailors Progress.
Published by G. Humphrey. May 1st 1820.
5¼ x 7½. Original colour and trimmed onto/within the border.
This plate was used as the frontispiece to the re-issue in ‘Cruikshankiana’ 1835 of ‘The Progress of a Midshipman’ but the date was changed to 1835 and they were issued uncoloured.
B. M. 13396.
£70.
click to view large format G. Cruikshank. The Phenix of Elba Resuscitated By Treason.
Published May 1st 1815 by W. N. Jones. Newgate St.-
13½ x 9¼. Original colour, trimmed onto within the plate mark, and up to the image on the right. The usual folds, as this is an item from the ‘Scourge’. Two tears on the right hand side, but no loss of paper.
The return of Napoleon is the basis for this print. He is shown in the centre arising from a cauldron. A grotesque hag, her hands dripping blood, holds a wand to his chest. Four small Field Marshals caper round with great glee. Above is a winged figure of Fate holding a crown in one hand a tiny guillotine and a hangman’s noose in the other. She says, ‘Rise! Rise! Though favoured son of Fate! Death or a Diadem shall reward they labours’. There are smaller scenes in other parts of the design. The Regent is top left and is approached by Castlereagh. On the right Wellington gallops towards Napoleon while Louis XVIII rides away on an ass with a large bundle of ‘Jewels.’
B. M. 12537.
£285.
click to view large format G. Cruikshank. OLD BUMBLEHEAD THE 18TH TRYING ON THE NAPOLEON BOOTS – or, Preparing for the Spanish Campaign.
Published February 17th 1823 by J. Fairburn, Broadway Ludgate Hill. London.
13¾ x 9¾. Original colour on paper with a watermark of 1821. Marks in the corners resulting from having been in an album. From the collection of Minto Wilson, with his stamp on the back.
Louis XVIII trying to get his boots onto his gouty legs and as he tries his crown falls off into the arms of Napoleon’s son who says “The boots wont fit you Old Bourbon – I’ll try them on by-by.”
B. M. 14502.
£300.
click to view large format G. Cruikshank. THE CHOLIC.
Published February 12th 1819 by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James’s St.
10¼ x 8¼. Early, (but not Humphrey’s ‘shop’ colour), with large margins.
A well-known image – though usually found in the 1835 reprint, with the 1835 date.
B. M. 13438.
£200.
click to view large format G. Cruikshank. THE HEADACHE.
Published February 12th 1819 by G. Humphrey 27 St. James’s St.
10 x 8¼. Early, (but not ‘shop’ colour), with large margins.
A companion to, “The Cholic”.
B. M. 13439.
£200.

 

 

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