[Rarebooks] fa: CRUIKSHANK - Hand-colored caricature of Napoleon & Talleyrand: BONEY STARK MAD - 1808

[Ardwight Chamberlain]

Listed now, along with other 17th, 18th & 19th-Century English titles,  
auctions ending Monday, October 17. More details and images can be  
found at the URL below or by searching under the seller name arch_in_la.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/arch_in_la/m.html?_trksid=p4340.l2562

Thanks again,
Ardwight Chamberlain
L.A.

Isaac [and George] Cruikshank: Boney Stark Mad or More Ships Colonies  
& Commerce. [London:] Pubd Janry 1 1808 by S W Fores 50  
Picadilly[sic]. Hand-colored engraving, matted, framed and glazed;  
image measures ca 14  x 9.5 in.; frames measures 19 x 15 in. Mild  
toning, a few spots, not examined out of frame. Broadley A-103; BM  
Satires 10960.
A satire on Napoleon's misadventures in Portugal. An original print,  
not a modern reproduction. Description from the British Museum  
Catalogue of Satires: "Napoleon stands on the shore of the Tagus,  
violently kicking  Talleyrand whom he holds by the wig. His bicorne is  
on the ground. Talleyrand wears a long gown; he raises his crippled  
leg, registering great alarm. In the estuary (l.) is the departing  
Portuguese fleet accompanied by smaller craft. Nearer shore is a  
ship's boat; Sir Sidney Smith stands holding the tiller and shouting  
through a speaking-trumpet at Napoleon: 'Bon Jour Monsieur, if you  
would like a trip to the Brazils I'll conduct you there with a great  
deal of Pleasure, perhaps you would like a taste of Madeira by the  
way.' Two of the sailors shout: 'Brazils a hoa', and 'here Bully rock  
her'es Some Lisbon Diet Drink for you alias Sidney Broth.' Napoleon  
shouts furiously at Talleyrand: 'Stop them stop them - Murder, fire  
Bougre why did you not make more haste, you hopping rascal -!! now all  
my hopes are blasted my revenge disappointed, and ------ I'll glut it  
on you, Monster, Vagabond, Villian.!!!' In the middle distance French  
cavalry are galloping up from the r. with sabres drawn; farther off  
infantry platoons are marching at the double. Behind  them is a walled  
city, Lisbon, with castellated fortifications on the shore. On these a  
tiny French soldier stands with a lighted match, shouting, 'Oh by Gar  
dey have spike all the Gun, oh ma foi ma foi.” Despite Portugal's  
adhesion to the Continental System (see BMSat 10773) and dismissal of  
the British Ambassador (after the bombardment of Copenhagen, see BMSat  
10762), Napoleon ordered invasion by French and Spanish troops (under  
the Treaty of Fontainebleau, 27 Oct. 1807), the seizure of the fleet,  
and partition of the country. Under pressure from Sir Sidney Smith the  
Regent was induced to leave for the Brazils with the fleet, treasure,  
archives, and ministers, escorted by Smith's squadron. They sailed on  
29 Nov., Junot's vanguard nearing Lisbon (which offered no resistance)  
next day..." Signed in the plate ("Cruikshank Sculp.") by Isaac  
Cruikshank; the co-attribution to his son George is from Broadley's  
Napoleon in Caricature (vol. i, p. 288).