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When people learn that I buy and sell Vanity Fair lithographs, they automatically think of the Vanity Fair magazine published in the United States. There were several iterations of Vanity Fair magazine, the first being an American publication which existed from 1859 to 1863. It was followed by the contemporary American magazine published from 1913 to 1936, which was revived in 1983.
The first issue of the British Vanity Fair was published in London on Nov. 7, 1868. It was founded and edited by Thomas Gibson Bowles. At the time, Vanity Fair was described as a weekly show of political, social and literary wares. Each issue contained a full page color lithographic portrait of a well known sovereign, statesman, or man of the day (some women were included), caricatured in a uniquely good-natured manner which became famous as the “Vanity Fair Style.” Working under the pseudonyms of “Spy” (Sir Leslie Ward, 1851-1922) and “Ape” (Carlo Pellegrini, 1838-1889), two artists in particular became notorious for their caricatures. Other fine artists also contributed portraits to the publication, including Max Beerbohm, James Jacques Tissot, Harry Furniss, Frank Paton, Walter Sickert and Alfred Thompson.
The last issue of the British Vanity Fair was published in 1914. Through its 45 year history it produced some of the most memorable caricatures of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Its wonderful, full color portrayals of prominent lawyers, judges, politicians, military figures, authors, actors, scientists and sportsmen of the day provide a valuable record of late 19th century personalities and their so-called vanities.
Rock Sand (1900–1914) was a British thoroughbred race horse and sire. In a career which lasted from the spring of 1902 until October 1904 he ran 20 times and won 16 races. After being a leading British two-year-old of his generation he became the 10th winner of the Triple Crown in 1903, winning the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, the Derby, and the St. Leger Stakes. He won another series of major races as a four-year-old before being retired to stud, where he had success in both Europe and North America.
There are more than 2,000 interesting and colorful caricatures. These caricatures are actually chromo-lithographs, meaning they were produced using color lithography. The printing is from a stone or metal plate and can be used to print text or artwork onto paper or other suitable material. Lithography originally used an image drawn with oil, fat, or wax onto a limestone plate.
The subject matter range of the lithographs ranged from doctors and scientists to fox hunters and jockeys to judges and even aviators. Generally, they measure 11 inches by 15 inches, with some doubles measuring 16 inches by 20 inches. Though they depict life a century ago, these lithographs are still in high demand. A lithograph of cricket player E.W.Dillon currently sells for $2,995, proving their enduring cultural value.
A very popular double is, “Cycling in Hyde Park”. This lithograph was done in 1896 and features prominent British ladies and gentlemen gathering for a bicycle ride in their fancy attire. The bicyclists shown in the lithograph are: the Marchioness of Londonderry; the Countess of Minto; Lord William Nevill; Lady Alexander Kennedy, and the Countess Cairns, among others.
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- One of the Americans included in the publication was Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., the prominent American jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court and Acting Chief Justice.
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- “Blackmore Vale” depicts Thomas Merthyr Guest, a military officer and prominent British personage.
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- Another prominent American was Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt. He was an extremely wealthy American and sportsman who died on the RMS Lusitania.
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- Sir Leslie Ward
