The Indian Charivari Album; 1875, First Ed.

First edition 1875 of “The Indian Charivari album” which is a collection of 25 hand-coloured portraits/caricatures of statesmen, military types and major public figures of the day in imperial India, accompanied by a page of text giving biographical details and information about their work or post. The Indian Charivari, published at 7, D’Acres Lane, Calcutta, was written by ‘Buck’, and the plates are attributed to ‘Caro’. Not much is known of who really produced this publication, but it is rumoured that the brains were Wilkins Terry, later the head of the Sir J.J. School of Arts Bombay, and Lockwood Kipling, father of the better known Rudyard.
The hand-coloured portraits feature among others Sir Philip Wodehouse; Sir R. Temple; Vere H. Hobart; Lord Napier of Magdala and Caryngton; Sir John Strachey; His Highness the Maharaja of Vizianagram; Sir R.H. Davies; The Honorable B.H. Ellis; Major-General The Honorable Sir H.W. Norman; The Right Reverend Robert Milman.

Background History:
The Indian Charivari was a magazine that was founded in 1872 as an illustrated magazine that reviewed current political and social topics in a playful spirit. Often referred to as the Indian Punch magazine, it had caricatures of statesmen, military and public figures in India along with information about them. The magazine used parody and witty caricatures in their text and images to express their views on Indians and the British at the time.

Condition:
Very good condition. Contemporary cloth, marbled end papers. Light toning and very light foxing to first and last few pages. Plates bright. Signature of previous owner on end paper. Spine and corners worn.