Stooped Victorian Philosopher – Vanity Fair Men of the Day No. 12, 1870

€ 330

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

Date: 1870
Mapmaker / artist: Vanity Fair (after Ape), London, 1870
Technique: Chromolithograph
Sheet size: 35.5 × 22.1 cm (14.0 × 8.7 in)
Condition: Good
Reference: BG-14156-21

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

Condition with soft age toning.

About this sheet

Stooped Victorian Philosopher – Vanity Fair Men of the Day No. 12, 1870

This original chromolithograph was published in Vanity Fair on October 22, 1870, as Men of the Day No. 12. Captioned “The Diogenes of the Modern Corinthians without his Tub,” the portrait presents an elderly intellectual figure rendered with dry wit and philosophical irony. The exaggerated stoop and penetrating gaze recall classical references while firmly situating the subject in Victorian society.

Such early Vanity Fair portraits are valued for their literary allusions and subtle satire, appealing both to collectors of 19th-century culture and to interior designers seeking characterful historical imagery.

Framing tips:
An ivory or soft parchment mat paired with a dark walnut or black-stained frame emphasizes the contemplative character.