[Original drawings for Punch cartoons; women] Four original ink drawings, later engraved and published Punch, on the subjects: women on bicycles, ice skating, women in the Oxford and Cambridge boat race, punting.

Author: 
'F. C.' [original drawings for cartoons in Punch, or the London Charivari]
Publication details: 
The cartoons were published in Punch (London): 26 August 1865; 18 May and 2 June 1866; 18 May 1869.
£250.00
SKU: 15265

Four charming and amusing cartoons from Punch's golden age. All four are executed in a similar style, but the identity of the cartoonist or cartoonists is unknown. (The first of the two cartoons in Item Two below, as published by Punch, has the monogram signature 'F C' engraved in the bottom right-hand corner. No Punch cartoonist with these initials is apparent.) ONE: Captioned: 'Another Brilliant Idea, Only Brillianter!' 21 x 13.5cm. In good condition, on leaf of browned high-acidity paper torn from a notebook. Two men idle in a punt while two women hold up sheets. Appeared on 26 August 1865, as companion piece to an earlier Punch cartoon (5 August 1865), the latter captioned 'Brilliant Idea, How we had ourselves blown up the river, as it was a great deal too hot to row.' TWO: Two companion pieces, 12 x 10cm and 11 x 9cm, laid down on 13.5 x 21 cm leaf. Both in good condition, lightly-aged; with slight loss to one edge of mount. Mount captioned in manuscript: 'ON THE ICE. | Being Helped along a Slide by some one Else's Brother, and - Being Helped along by one's own Brother.' Dated in bottom right-hand corner of mount to August 1866, but in fact appearing in Punch, 10 March 1866. In the first of the two a pretty young girl is solicitously assisted along an icy path by a dapper young man with moustache, straw hat and cane; and in the second the same young lady's younger brother propels her forwards along the path with a heave, his head planted firmly in her bustle. THREE: Captioned: 'Boat-Race of the Future. Drifting down to the Starting-Point.' 11 x 17cm. On 13 x 21cm mount. Two row boats, each containing five ladies in, with an urban river bank behind them. The five ladies in the boat in the foreground are smartly dressed in uniform striped dresses and spotted hats. Published in Punch, 2 June 1866. Both in good condition, lightly-aged; with slight loss to one edge of mount. FOUR: 'This is what we may Expect to see this Season.' 21 x 13.5cm. In good condition, on leaf of browned high-acidity paper torn from a notebook (as Item One). Lady dressed in high style with top hat and bustle, rides side-saddle on a bicycle with her little dog scampering beside her, while pursued by a surprised John Bull on another bicycle, past a bemused bystander. Published in Punch, 18 May 1869, with the slightly different caption 'Oh! Then, this is what we may expect to see this season.'