The man wots got the whip hand of ’em all

“A hand printing-press of metal (a Stanhope Press), supported on the stout legs of a man in breeches which seem to belong to a John Bull, puts to flight mere pigmy humans: two flee to the right, one propelled by a kick from a huge buckled shoe; two others have fallen. Two levers or handles serve as arms; one has a hand which grasps a giant pen, the feather entwined with three serpents which spit flame at the departing legs and cocked hat of Wellington, who, kicked into the air, disappears behind the upper right margin of the design. Another pair of legs, with the black stockings and buckled shoes of Eldon, project from the upper left margin; beside them a single leg and a broom indicate the departing Brougham. A second lever supports a print, ‘The Man Wot Drives The Sovereign’, copied from British Museum satires no. 15731; a flame issues from the press, threatening to scorch or destroy the print. The press is topped by a cap of Liberty inscribed ‘Free Press’ and encircled with a wreath. A little demon (a printer’s devil) rushes towards the press from the left, holding up a big ink-ball.”–British Museum online catalogue.

• Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  
• Title: The man wots got the whip hand of ’em all [graphic].
  
• Publication: [London] : Pub. May 30th, 1829, by T. McLean, 26 Haymarket …, [30 May 1829]

Catalog Record 

829.05.30.01+

Acquired October 2018

The Corsican whipping top in full spin!!!

“A (tricolour) top with the head of Napoleon spins, above the ground, savagely lashed by representatives of the Allies. His arms and his legs have already been severed from his body, now represented only by the madly spinning top. The most violently active is Blücher (left) stripped to the shirt, his coat and hat thrown on a drum on the extreme left, beside which lie his gloves and baton. Facing them is Wellington (right) equally effective, stern, but less savage. Full-face, and immediately behind the top is the Tsar, left hand on hip; his whip is inscribed ‘Knout’. Between him and Wellington is Schwarzenberg (or Francis I). Bernadotte stands rather behind, between Blücher and Alexander, both hands on his hips; he holds a whip but is an amused spectator. Behind (right) the future King of Holland, crowned and wearing a star, but dressed in the breeches and jacket of the Dutchman in English caricature, sits under a tree on a cask of ‘Hollands’. He watches delightedly, holding up one of Napoleon’s legs inscribed ‘United Netherlands’. The other leg, the thigh inscribed ‘Swisslad, the boot Italy, lies near Blücher. At Wellington’s feet is the right arm inscribed Spain & Portugal’; the left arm, inscribed ‘Germany’, is near Schwarzenberg. Napoleon’s orb and (broken) sceptre lie near him, with some of the feathers from the large hat which is still on his head; his horrified and shrieking profile faces Blücher. In the background (left) is a road along which a carriage drives off, drawn by four galloping horses. It contains tiny figures: Marie Louise, crowned and looking behind her, and the little King of Rome also crowned and waving a sceptre. Two soldiers are on the box, two others sit behind. In the air behind Bernadotte a demon flies off to the left, with Joseph Bonaparte clutching his barbed tail. The latter, his crown flying off, looks back horrified, exclaiming “O! My poor Brother Nap oh oh! O!”.”–British Museum online catalogue.

• Printmaker: Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878, printmaker.
  
• Title:T he Corsican whipping top in full spin!!! [graphic] / G.H. invt. ; G. Cruikshank fect.
  
• Publication: [London] : Pubd. April 11th, 1814, by H. Humphrey, St. James’s Strt., [11 April 1814]

Catalog Record

814.04.11.01+

Acquired June 2018

Old Nick’s gatherings!

“he Devil, laden with Tories, strides to the left, quoting the Duke of Newcastle with a gloating grin: ‘Can’t I do what I like with MY OWN’ [see BM Satires No. 15884, &c.]. Across his shoulder is a trident on which a bloated bishop is spiked. From the lower end of the handle a rat-trap (see BM Satires No. 15734), on which Peel sits, hangs by a rope. Wellington, encircled by the barbed tail, is dragged along, kicking violently. He is in uniform with spurred boots; a gibbet projects from his cocked hat. Under the Devil’s arm are two lawyers: Wetherell in his slovenly dress, and Lyndhurst. The remainder are tied by ropes to the Devil’s back; most prominent (left to right) are Ellenborough, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Croker. The others are scarcely characterized; a Scots cap may denote Lauderdale, a renegade.”–Britism Museum online catalogue.

• Printmaker: Grant, C. J. (Charles Jameson), active 1830-1852, printmaker.
  
• Title: Old Nick’s gatherings! [graphic] : “A pretty considerable damn’d hard day’s work I’ve had on’t!”.
  
• Publication: [London] : [W. Chubb], [1832]

Catalog Record

Folio 75 G750 832 no. 6 (Oversize)

Acquired November 2016

Lieut. Goverr. Gall-Stone inspired by Alecto…

Gillray, James, 1756-1815

Lieut. Goverr. Gall-Stone inspired by Alecto, or, The birth of Minerva / James Gillray design et fect.

Published: [London] : Pubd. Feby. 15th 1790 by H. Humphrey, No. 18, Old Bond Street, 15 Feb. 1790]

790.02.15.01++ Impression 2

A vicious satire on the life and works of Philip Thicknesse, writer and soldier, dedicated a number of Thicknesse’s most prominent enemies: Lord Thurlow, the Earls of Camde, Bute, Bathurst, and Coventry as well as Thicknesse’s own sons Baron Audley and Philip Junior.

Etched following title: “From his head she sprung, a goddess arm’d.” Milton. To the opinions of The Right Honble. Edward, Lord Thurlow, The Earls Camden, Bute … this attempt to eludicate the properties of honor and courage, intelligence and philanthropy, is most respectfully submitted, by their servant, Js. Gillray.

Subjects (Library of Congress): Thicknesse, Philip, 1719-1792–Caricatures and cartoons; Animals; Demons; Erinyes (Greek mythology); Minerva (Roman deity); Humphrey, Hannah, fl. 1774-1817, publisher.

Lewis Walpole Library new acquisition: June, 2010