Punch, the magazine of humour and satire, ran from 1841 until its closure in 2002. A very British institution with an international reputation for its witty and irreverent take on the world, it published the work of some of the greatest comic writers (Thackeray, P G Wodehouse and P J O’Rourke among others) and gave us the cartoon as we know it today. Its political cartoons swayed governments while its social cartoons captured life in the 19th and 20th centuries. The world’s finest cartoonists appeared in Punch: such great names as Tenniel, E H Shepard, Fougasse, and Pont.

Darvill's Rare Prints is pleased to offer the following original cartoons from 1844-1916.
The sheet size is about 8 x 10 3/4 inches and the cartoons from 1915-1916 are printed on one side of the paper, unless noted. Please click on a thumbnail to see an enlarged view. Condition is mostly excellent with slight corner or edge wear. The earlier cartoons from the 1840s and 1850s may have some foxing and/or light image transference.

THESE ARE ORIGINAL PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI CARTOONS
FROM THE YEARS STATED, NOT REPRODUCTIONS!

THE FOLLOWING 12 SHEETS ARE FROM THE SUPPLEMENT TO
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI FROM APRIL 14, 1915 TITLED "OUR NAVY".
EACH PAGE IS PRINTED ON BOTH SIDES, AS OPPOSED TO THE USUAL PRINTS FROM 1915 WHICH ARE BLANK ON THE REVERSE. THE REGULAR 1915 PRINTS PRECEDE AND FOLLOW THIS SECTION, IN DATE ORDER.

(We may not have typed all of the subtext to each cartoon, only the titles.)

[SIDE A]

OUR NAVY

Admiral Lord Nelson. "My ships have passed away, but the spirit of my men remains."

[SIDE B]

SONGS AND THEIR SINGERS

Jack (at the top of his voice)—
"There's only one girl in the world for me!"—Popular Song.

("OUR NAVY" SUPPLEMENT TO PUNCH, APRIL 14, 1915)

[SIDE A]

A DIPLOMATIST

Examining Admiral (to Naval Candidate). "Now mention three great Admirals."

Candidate."Drake, Nelson and—I beg your pardon, Sir, I didn't quite catch your name."

[SIDE B]

First Bluejacket. "Well, Matey, wot 'appened?"

Second Bluejacket."Leftenant, 'e reports as 'ow I were dirty, an' my 'ammick weren't clean, an' Captin, 'e ses, 'Wash 'is bloomin' Neck, scrub 'is bloomin' Face, an' cut 'is bloomin' 'air, every Ten Minutes!' "

Fleet Surgeon. "There doesn't seem much wrong with you, my Man. What's the Matter?"

A.B. "Well, Sir, it's like this, Sir. I eats well, an' I drinks well, an' I sleeps well; but when I sees a Job of Work—there, I'm all of a tremble!"

("OUR NAVY" SUPPLEMENT TO PUNCH, APRIL 14, 1915)
$15

[SIDE A]

Irascible Lieutenant (down engine-room tube). "Is there a Blithering Idiot at the end of the Tube?"

Voice from Engine-room."Not at this end, Sir!"

Commander. "What's his character apart from this leave-breaking?"

Petty Officer. "Well, Sir, this man 'e goes ashore when 'e likes; 'e comes off when 'e likes; 'e uses 'orrible language when 'e's spoken to; in fact, from 'is general be'aviour 'e might be a orficer!"

[SIDE B]

A SYMPATHETIC SOUL

Bluejacket (in charge of Party of Sightseers). "Here Nelson fell."

Old Lady. "An' I don't wonder at it, poor dear. Nasty slippery place! I nearly fell there myself!"

("OUR NAVY" SUPPLEMENT TO PUNCH, APRIL 14, 1915)
$15

[SIDE A]

THE SOFT SPOT

Boatswain (to newly-joined Cadet). "Come, my little Man, you mustn't cry on board of one of Her Majesty's Ships of War. Did your Mother cry when you left?"

Cadet."Yes, Sir!"

Boatswain. "Silly old Woman! And did your Sister cry"

Cadet."Yes, Sir."

Boatswain. "Stupid little Thing! And did your Father cry?"

Cadet."No, Sir."

Boatswain. " 'Ard-'earted old Beggar!"

[SIDE B]

THE BRITISH NAVY IN DIFFICULTIES

Sailor. "Ahoy there! Get out your collision mats! Can't you see he's going to ram?"

R.M.L.I.

Royal Marine (engaged in coaling ship). "When I joined the corps the Sergeant 'e ses to me, 'It's 'arf soldierin' an' 'arf yachtin', ' 'e ses. I suppose this is the bloomin' yachtin' ! "

("OUR NAVY" SUPPLEMENT TO PUNCH, APRIL 14, 1915)
$15

[SIDE A]

THE POSER

Constable (to Street Performer, who is trying to free himself after having been hopelessly tied up by Blue-jacket). "Now then, move on there!"

AT THE NAVAL AND MILITARY TOURNAMENT

Unbelieving Spectator (who, having seen naval field guns lifted smartly over walls, etc., is inspecting them after the performance). "There! I knew there was some trickery.
These Guns are hollow!"

[SIDE B]

A LITTLE-NAVY EXHIBIT

DESIGN FOR A FIGURE OF BRITTANIA IN 1906, AS CERTAIN PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE HER

("OUR NAVY" SUPPLEMENT TO PUNCH, APRIL 14, 1915)
$20

[SIDE A]

Jack. " 'Ere, steady on! The bloomin' saddle's gone astarn!"

Jack (stopping taximeter hansom). " 'Old 'ard, Mate! We ain't a-goin to sail with our flag 'arf-mast. There ain't any of us dead aboard 'ere, not by a long chalk!"

[SIDE B]

THE CAP THAT FITS

Petty Officer of Petrol. "Hullo, you. What's your ship?"

Sailor (returning from revelry). " 'Ow long 'ave you been blind? It's wrote plain enough on my cap, ain't it?"

("OUR NAVY" SUPPLEMENT TO PUNCH, APRIL 14, 1915)
$15

[SIDE A]

MORE GRIEVANCES

Chronic Grumbler. "Now, there's the Chaplain, 'e don't 'ave any work to do on this 'ere ship; an' the Captain o' Marines, 'e don't 'ave anythink to do, an' 'e 'as two bloomin' lootenants to 'elp 'im do it!"

[SIDE B]

Ostler. "Want a horse? What kind o' horse?"

Man from "Liberty" Boat's Crew. "Oh, a good long 'un; there's eleven of us!"

First Jack Tar (to shipmates, who have hired a very small cart and a very large horse). " 'Ow are ye going to see where ye're going' with that there elephant in front of ye?"

Second Jack Tar. "That's all right, Mate. Bill 'e's goin' to keep a look out to starboard, I'm goin' to look out to port, and the 'oss 'as got to look out ahead."

("OUR NAVY" SUPPLEMENT TO PUNCH, APRIL 14, 1915)
$15

[SIDE A]

Surgeon (examining in the practical methods of reviving the apparently drowned). "How, how long would you persevere in those motions of the Arms? "

Blue Jacket (from the Emerald Isle). "Until he was dead, Sir!"

Commander. "What is your complaint against this Boy?"

Blue Jacket. "Well, Sir, as I was a-walkin' arft, the 'ere Boy, 'e up an' calls me a Bloomin' Idjit. Now, 'ow would you like to be called a Bloomin' Idjit, supposin' you wasn't one?"

[SIDE B]

GOOD HUNTING

A CHIP OF THE OLD BLOCK

[AUSTRALIA]

("OUR NAVY" SUPPLEMENT TO PUNCH, APRIL 14, 1915)
$30

[SIDE A]

A NORTH SEA CHANTEY

(to the tune of "Tipperary.")

Jack. "It's a long, long wait for William's Navy, but my hearts right here."

[SIDE B]

GAY BIRDS

Amelia (at a dance given in honour of a flying visit from the Fleet). "So you're off again to-morrow? Oh, you sailors are such Birds of Paradise!"

("OUR NAVY" SUPPLEMENT TO PUNCH, APRIL 14, 1915)
$20

[SIDE A]

PHONETICS

First A.B. (mess cook). "Wot'll we give 'em to-morrow for afters? Tapioker?"

Second A.B. (mess cook). "That'll do; bung it down; you'll want four pounds."

First A.B. (spelling audibly as he writes). "4 lbs. T-A-B-A—T-A-B-I"—hesitates—"We'd better 'ave macaroni."

Second A.B."All right; bung it down, then."

First A.B."4 lbs. M-A-K-A —M-A-K-I"—Oh, we'll 'ave rice! 4 lbs. R-I-S-E!"

[SIDE B]

First Jack Tar Abroad (to second, very "busy riding"). "Ulloa, bill; looks like yer workin' yer passage."

Bill. "Yuss; 'ad bloomin' rough weather, too; but it's all right if ye 'old on to this 'ere forestay."

Fair Frenchwoman. "Is it permitted to make the tour of your beautiful vessel?"

Midshipman (after getting his breath back). "Ra-ther!"

("OUR NAVY" SUPPLEMENT TO PUNCH, APRIL 14, 1915)
$20

[SIDE A]

First Lady (horrified at bright scarlet muffler for Navy, the creation of Second Lady). "My dear—the colour! It'll make a target for the Germans!"

Second Lady. "Oh! Then it'll have to do for the stoker."

Stoker (to "Our Special Correspondent"). "I see the torpedo approachin' us; so without waitin' fer any orders I dives overboard, just gives 'im a flick on 'is little rudder, an' off 'e goes to starb'd an' passes us 'armlessly by."

[SIDE B]

T.B.D.

Officer's Steward. "Will you take your bath, Sir, before or after Haction? "

("OUR NAVY" SUPPLEMENT TO PUNCH, APRIL 14, 1915)
$20

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI CARTOONS (1915)
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

MORE ORIGINAL PUNCH CARTOONS:

1844-1847 | 1848-1849 | 1850-1851 | 1852-1853 | 1854-1856 | 1857-1858 | 1915 | 1916

Humor and Satire homepage