Emblems & Satire · 19th century
€ 205
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good condition with original hand-fresh color. Minor age toning and faint handling marks to margins. Print retains full image area and title caption. Looks like it has been framed before.
Antique Vanity Fair Caricature – The Favourite Jockey, 1881
This original chromolithograph appeared in Vanity Fair magazine on May 28, 1881, and is titled “The Favourite Jockey.” It was drawn by Leslie Ward (1851–1922), better known by his celebrated signature “Spy.” Ward was one of the most prolific caricaturists of Vanity Fair, producing hundreds of witty yet respectful portraits of notable figures in Victorian society.
This particular print depicts the jockey in full riding attire: a red cap, dark vest, white breeches, tall riding boots, and whip in hand. The slender build, hunched shoulders, and distinctive profile are rendered in Ward’s trademark style—exaggerated but not unkind, emphasizing both the character and the profession of the sitter. Vanity Fair caricatures such as this became highly collectible both in their time and today, offering a humorous yet insightful record of prominent figures in politics, the arts, sports, and high society.
Horse racing held a central place in late Victorian leisure culture, and jockeys were public figures whose fame rivaled that of politicians and actors. Prints like this one capture that cultural significance, as well as the artistry of Vanity Fair’s illustrators. Each print was produced as a full-page color lithograph and distributed with the weekly magazine, making them accessible and widely collected.
This lithograph preserves Ward’s bold lines and careful color work, and the caption “the favourite Jockey” beneath the image adds context to the subject’s reputation in racing circles of the time. Today, Vanity Fair prints are highly sought after by collectors of sporting art, equestrian history, and caricature.
Condition report:
Good condition with original hand-fresh color. Minor age toning and faint handling marks to margins. Print retains full image area and title caption. Looks like it has been framed before.
Framing tips:
A light cream or ivory mat will bring out the delicate shading of the lithograph, while a slim black or dark wood frame provides an elegant finish. For a more sporting feel, a mahogany or walnut frame complements the equestrian theme and highlights the warm tones of the jockey’s attire.
Technique: Chromolithograph
Maker: Leslie Ward (Spy), published by Vanity Fair, London, 1881
