Lot 285: Vanity Fair - 251 Caricatures featuring Judges, Men in Uniform, Gentlemen, Academics, Men of Faith, Artists, Musicians

These endearing caricatures are from Vanity Fair. The work was published from 1868 to 1914 and was a weekly magazine of social, literary, and political content. Victorian and Edwardian England celebrated the work and most noted were it's caricatures of famous men and women of the time.

Thomas Gibson Bowles was the founder, owner, and editor of the magazine until 1889. He described the images as "grim faces made more grim, grotesque figures made more grotesque, and dull people made duller by the genius of our talented collaborator 'Ape'; but there is nothing that has been treated with a set purpose to make it something that it was not already originally in a lesser degree." Bowles also wrote the biographical commentaries on each caricature under the pseudonym 'Jehu Junior'.

Vanity Fair also featured word games, book and theater reviews, financial advice columns, serialized fiction, travel reports, and more. Eventually the magazine moved away from political and economic news and moved on to more social ventures. It remained informative as well as amusing throughout its publication. The caricatures are quintessentially English and have gained popularity among collectors and interior designers.

~ 10 1/4" by 15 1/2"

Color Lithographs

1868-1914

Overall Excellent. There may be a few minor imerfections to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition an contact us with any questions.