Items Similar to Set of Six Victorian Vanity Fair Caricatures, British Elite, 1883
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10
Set of Six Victorian Vanity Fair Caricatures, British Elite, 1883
$1,715.98per set
£1,282.30per set
€1,450per set
CA$2,389.41per set
A$2,567.67per set
CHF 1,377.71per set
MX$30,245.63per set
NOK 17,323.12per set
SEK 15,824.56per set
DKK 11,053.46per set
About the Item
Set of Six Vanity Fair Caricatures, 1883 – Victorian Politics, Military
Science
This cohesive set of six original Vanity Fair chromolithographs dates from early 1883 and presents a vivid cross-section of late Victorian public life, ranging from politics and court service to military heroism, science, and finance. Issued weekly by Vanity Fair and drawn by leading caricaturists such as “Spy” and “T.”, these full-length portraits are celebrated for their refined draughtsmanship, subtle satire, and elegant hand-colouring, making them among the most iconic British portrait prints of the 19th century.
The map is offered unframed, enabling custom framing to personal or interior preferences.
The group includes portrayals of prominent figures of the era: Sir Charles James Freake, the influential London developer of Kensington and Conservative MP, shown as “An Eminent Builder”; William Thomas Marriott, barrister, KC and Member of Parliament for Brighton; Henry Frederick Ponsonby, depicted as “The Privy Purse” in his role as Queen Victoria’s trusted Private Secretary; Evelyn Sherbrooke Burnaby, a Crimean War veteran and MP celebrated for his military exploits; Richard Anthony Proctor, the renowned astronomer and popular science writer, represented under the caption “Astronomy”; and Henry Ainslie Hoare, banker and Liberal politician, characterized as “A Reformed Radical.”
Each sheet exemplifies Vanity Fair’s distinctive visual language: the sitter isolated against a pale ground, animated through pose and gesture, and accompanied by a witty caption that encapsulates public reputation rather than caricaturing cruelty. Together, the six prints form a balanced and intellectually engaging ensemble, reflecting Victorian Britain’s fascination with leadership, achievement, and character. As a set, they work exceptionally well for display in a study, library, club interior, or gallery wall, where their unified palette and format create a refined, historically rich presentation.
Condition:
All six prints are in good original condition, with light, even age toning and minor scattered spotting consistent with 19th-century paper. Margins are ample; plate images remain strong and unfaded. Any minor handling marks are unobtrusive and do not detract from overall appearance.
Framing tips:
These prints are ideally framed uniformly in dark walnut or ebonised wood frames with generous ivory or warm off-white mounts. Museum glass is recommended to protect the original hand-colouring while maintaining clarity. Displaying them as a linear set or in a balanced two-by-three arrangement enhances their visual rhythm and period elegance.
Technique: Chromolithography
Maker: Vincent Brooks, Day
Son, London, 1883
- Dimensions:Height: 14.97 in (38 cm)Width: 10.24 in (26 cm)Depth: 0.01 in (0.2 mm)
- Sold As:Set of 6
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1883
- Condition:All six prints are in good original condition, with light, even age toning and minor scattered spotting consistent with 19th-century paper. Margins are ample; plate images remain strong and unfaded. Any minor handling marks are unobtrusive.
- Seller Location:Langweer, NL
- Reference Number:Seller: BG-14157-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -61stDibs: LU3054348313502
About the Seller
5.0
Recognized Seller
These prestigious sellers are industry leaders and represent the highest echelon for item quality and design.
Platinum Seller
Premium sellers with a 4.7+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 2009
1stDibs seller since 2017
2,834 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Langweer, Netherlands
- Return Policy
More From This Seller
View AllVictorian Vanity Fair Caricatures, Empire
Service, Set of Six, 1880s
Located in Langweer, NL
Victorian Vanity Fair Caricatures, Empire & Service, Set of Six, 1880s
This distinguished set of six original Vanity Fair chromolithographs from the 1880s presents a compelling surv...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Prints
Materials
Paper
Victorian Vanity Fair Caricatures, Parliament
Society, Set of Six, 1883
Located in Langweer, NL
Victorian Vanity Fair Caricatures, Parliament & Society, Set of Six, 1883
Description
This distinguished set of six original Vanity Fair chromolithographs from 1883 presents a focus...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Prints
Materials
Paper
Victorian Vanity Fair Caricatures, Society
Power, Set of Six, 1883
Located in Langweer, NL
Victorian Vanity Fair Caricatures, Society & Power, Set of Six, 1883
This elegant set of six original Vanity Fair chromolithographs, published between January and February 1883, pre...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Prints
Materials
Paper
Victorian Vanity Fair Caricatures, War, Law
Society, Set of Six, 1883
Located in Langweer, NL
Victorian Vanity Fair Caricatures, War, Law & Society, Set of Six, 1883
This striking set of six original Vanity Fair chromolithographs from 1883 brings together an exceptional cros...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Prints
Materials
Paper
Set of Three Vanity Fair Portraits – Victorian Gentlemen, London 1870
Located in Langweer, NL
Set of Three Vanity Fair Portraits – Victorian Statesmen, London 1870
This elegant set of three original Vanity Fair chromolithographs dates from 1870 and presents a visually cohere...
Category
Antique 1870s British Prints
Materials
Paper
Victorian Political Satire – Vanity Fair Statesmen, Jesuit Theme, 1870
Located in Langweer, NL
Victorian Political Satire – Vanity Fair Statesmen, Jesuit Theme, 1870
Description: This Vanity Fair print from August 13, 1870, carries stronger narrative content, referencing cont...
Category
Antique 1870s British Prints
Materials
Paper
You May Also Like
Collection of 6 Vanity Fair Political “Spy”Prints Statesmen, a good collection
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Collection of 6 Vanity Fair Political “Spy”Prints
Statesmen, a good collection of coloured prints dating from around 1876, mounted and glazed in black frames, some have printed desc...
Category
Antique 1870s Victorian Paintings
Materials
Paper
Collection of 3 Vanity Fair Political “Spy”Prints A good collection
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Collection of 3 Vanity Fair Political “Spy”Prints
A good collection of coloured prints dating from 1896, 1897 and 1904, mounted and glazed in black frames
The prints are in good co...
Category
Antique 19th Century Victorian Paintings
Materials
Paper
For the
Times
, Vanity Fair legal chromolithograph of a judge, 1889
By Sir Leslie Ward
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Vanity Fair legal portrait of John Patrick Murphy QC.
380mm by 260mm (sheet)
Category
Late 19th Century Victorian Figurative Prints
Materials
Lithograph
Whitelaw Reid, New York Tribune, Vanity Fair American caricature portrait, 1897
By Sir Leslie Ward
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
'New York Tribune'
Chromolithograph. 1902.
Vanity Fair portrait of Whitelaw Reid who was a US politician and newspaper editor.
395mm by 265mm (sheet)
Category
Early 20th Century Victorian Figurative Prints
Materials
Lithograph
19th C., Vanity Fair Framed Chromolithograph of Gentlemen Ex. Christie
s
By Sir Leslie Ward
Located in Morristown, NJ
[English Gentlemen], from Vanity Fair chromolithograph, on wove papers. Printed by Vincent Brooks Day & Son., with various dates from 1875 to 1897.
Professionally framed with black and gilt frames and beige silk mats, with margins, apparently in excellent condition, not examined out of the frames.
Vanity Fair was a weekly magazine published in London, founded & edited by Thomas Gibson Bowles. His aim was to expose to contemporary vanities of Victorian society. From 1868 to 1914, full page colour lithographs appeared in most weekly issues, frequently lampooning or lauding their subjects which included artists, athletes, royalty, politicians, scientists, authors, actors, sportsmen, lawyers, diplomats, soldiers, clergy, scholars and other celebrities of the day - mostly British, but also many other internationally significant personalities. Over 2,300 of these colour cartoons were printed, and they are considered the chief cultural legacy of the magazine, forming a pictorial record of many of the most significant public figures of the period. They are renowned throughout the world and highly collectible and recognisable. Famous artists contributed to Vanity Fair, typically under pen names. The best remembered today is Leslie Ward (1851-1922), who signed his works as "Spy", and whose caricatures account for well over half of those featured in Vanity Fair. So famous have these fabulous prints become, Vanity Fair caricatures today often are referred to simply as "Spy Cartoons...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Prints
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paper
Charles John Darling, lawyer, Vanity Fair caricature portrait, 1897
By Sir Leslie Ward
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
'Little Darling'
Chromolithograph. 1897.
Vanity Fair musician portrait of Charles John Darling (1849-1936), lawyer, politician and High Court judge.
395mm by 265mm (sheet)
Category
Late 19th Century Victorian Figurative Prints
Materials
Lithograph
