Original Temperance Sketch DRAWN and SIGNED By CRUIKSHANK
George Cruikshank, 1854. 1st Edition. No Binding. Folio. Near Fine. Item #017774
[Ca. 1854-1855]Housed in A Custom Graphic Clam Shell ,Brown Leather Spine, Leather Label Onlay, Gold Tooling, Five Raised Bands, Internal Felt and Photograph of Cruikshank on left side, on the Right Housing a Single folded sheet, a pen and ink sketch of two standing, male figures on the lower half, one ragged and unkempt, the other reformed and neatly dressed -- rendered in Cruikshank's loose working style, with shadow lines beneath their feet. The hand written dialog by Cruikshank transcribes as: Left figure: "Why Tom -- I hardly known you again -- you got such nice clothes on too --" Right figure: Why didn't you go a thing as I did on think [there'd be] taught to read & write a syphon -- and be instructed in morals & religion and well fed & well clothed & taught a trade --." On the upper half of the same side are miscellaneous manuscript jottings in pencil, possibly names or addresses. On the verso are two names (one partially crossed out above) and blow it, "George Cruikshank Esq" with the word "mover" written alongside it. The body of the text is a formal resolution, which reads: "That this meeting, being fully convinced of the unsatisfactory character of the inquiry instituted by the Select Committee of the House of Commons of which Mr. Berkeley was Chairman, and of the injurious tendency the New Bill adopted on the recommendation of that Committee -- is decidedly of opinion that Petitions to both houses of Parliament should be presented early in the next Session, praying that the inquiry may be renewed without delay, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the Bill so hastily passed may not be greatly amended by its requiring Public Houses and Beer Shops to be closed from two 'clock on Saturday night to four o'clock on Monday morning; and this Meeting further recommends the Committee of the London Temperance League to prepare such petitions for signature forthwith." Light fading, creasing at corners with some spotting. Near Fine in a custom, elegant clamshell box, a portrait of Cruikshank on front and full size photograph inside on verso. The combination of original sketch and signed resolution on a single working document is rare. The document captures Cruikshank at the height of his temperance campaigning, approximately a year before his elevation to Vice President of the National Temperance League. The Berkeley Committee referenced in the document is the Select Committee of the House of Commons chaired by Mr. H. Berkeley, MP for Bristol, which examined the operation of the Sale of Beer Act and the regulation of public house and beer shop hours. Parliamentary debates on the committee's recommendations, including proposals to close licensed premises from Saturday night through Monday morning took place in 1855. The London Temperance League was the predecessor of the National Temperance League, not formed until 1856, via the amalgamation of the London Temperance League with the National Temperance Society. A heavy drinker in his youth, George Cruikshank [1792-1878], converted to total abstinence in around 1847. His father, Isaac, had previously died of alcoholism. Cruikshank's series The Bottle, produced the same year of his sobriety, illustrated the destruction of a family through drink. He devoted an enormous energy to the temperance cause, lecturing through Britain, providing societies with illustrations, and attending and moving resolutions and public meetings. He was elected Vice President of the newly formed National Temperance League. The present document shows Cruikshank not only as an illustrator of temperance themes but, as a named participant and activist in the legislative campaign against the Berkeley Committee's bill.
Price (CAD): $4,750.00