Set of 6 Vanity Fair Spy Caricatures – Victorian Gentlemen Portraits 1883
€ 1 350
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1883
Mapmaker / artist
Leslie Ward (“Spy”), printed by Vincent Brooks, Day & Son, London, 1883
Technique
Chromolithograph
Sheet size
38 × 26 cm (15.0 × 10.2 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-14157-38, -39, -40, -41, -42, -43
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
Very good overall with light age toning and minor foxing. Occasional light edge wear typical for the period. Colors well preserved.
About this sheet
Set of 6 Vanity Fair Spy Caricatures – Named Victorian Figures 1883 A cohesive and historically rich set of six original Vanity Fair chromolithographs, all published in 1883 and drawn by Leslie Ward (“Spy”). This curated group portrays identifiable figures from late Victorian Britain, offering both decorative appeal and strong historical substance.
The set includes: “The friend of Pelissier” – Sir Henry Keppel, distinguished Royal Navy admiral and Crimean War figure “A Parliamentary Title” – Charles Philip Yorke, 9th Earl of Hardwicke, aristocrat and politician “Rock” – Henry Chaplin, influential Conservative politician and agricultural advocate “Agriculture” – James Howard, agricultural reformer and Liberal MP “Lincoln” – Abraham Hayward, prominent writer, lawyer, and intellectual figure “The Lad” – Lord Randolph Churchill, rising Conservative politician and father of Winston Churchill
Together, these portraits represent a cross-section of Victorian power: military leadership, Parliament, landed interests, reform movements, and intellectual society. Ward’s refined caricatures capture each man’s personality through posture and detail, balancing gentle satire with elegant portraiture.
Printed by Vincent Brooks, Day & Son in London, the set offers excellent decorative unity while also functioning as a visual record of the personalities shaping Britain in the 1880s.
Special note: These are original early 19th century chromolithographs, not reproductions. All items we offer are authentic period works of art over 100 years old. The chromolithographs are sold unframed; any framed images are shown for presentation and interior inspiration only and may not always be to scale.
Condition: Very good overall with light age toning and minor foxing. Occasional light edge wear typical for the period. Colors well preserved.
Framing tips: Best presented in matching dark frames with ivory mats. Ideal as a grid or linear gallery arrangement.
