Woman Unveiling "La Menagerie Imperiale" Banner with Vulture Onlook, 1870

€ 140

Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)

Date: 1870
Sheet size: 30.5 × 24.1 cm (12.0 × 9.5 in)
Reference: BG-13805

What the condition grades mean

Excellent: Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good: Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good: Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair: Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.

Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.

Condition

Good, given age. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.

About this sheet

Title page for the following album:

This satirical album, "The Imperial Menagerie," consists of 31 hand-colored lithograph plates by the artist Hadol, published in Paris around 1870. The collection portrays various figures from the royal family and prominent politicians during the time of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) as anthropomorphic animals.

The title page features Marianne, the symbol of the French Republic, unveiling the title and setting the tone for the biting political commentary within. Each caricature merges human and animal traits to critique the depicted individual's characteristics or political actions, symbolizing the leaders' perceived failings and excesses. The album serves as a humorous yet scathing historical commentary on French leadership during a tumultuous era.