A soliloquy on death [graphic]

Description

Title: A soliloquy on death [graphic]
Creator: Marks, John Lewis, printmaker
Contributor: Marks, John Lewis, publisher.
Published / Created: [approximately August 1821]
Publication Place: London
Publisher: Printed and published by I.L. Marks, 37, Prince's Street, Soho
Abstract: "Heading to a printed broadside, a parody of Hamlet's soliloquy spoken by George IV, beginning 'To be or not to be? and ending 'I'd rather drink and revel here in secret, | Than fly | Where I might meet her face to face'. The King, much burlesqued, stands with legs astride on the boards of a theatre, framed by curtains patterned with grapes, bottles, glasses, crowns, and antlers. On the back-cloth are crude Chinese figures. He has a huge head, with heavy drink-blotched face crowned by the towering curls of his wig, and holds a full goblet and a bottle of Curaco. With an expression of calculating melancholy he meditates suicide, on account of 'The scorns and satire of an injur'd Nation', but fears to meet his wife's ghost."--British Museum online catalogue
Description: Title printed in letterpress below image.
Date of publication from the British Museum catalogue.
Thirty-two lines of letterpress text beneath title, beginning: To be or not to be? That is the question ...
Price statement and publisher's advertisement following imprint: --Price 1s. coloured.--Where may be had "Hush-a-bye baby upon the tree top."
Mounted to 58 x 39 cm.
Mounted on leaf 36 in volume 1 of the W.E. Gladstone collection of caricatures and broadsides surrounding the "Queen Caroline Affair."
Figure of "Geo. IV" identified in black ink below image; letters written in red ink within the blanks in the letterpress text, completing the censored words "York's," "Queen," "royal," and George." Typed extract of three lines from the British Museum catalogue description is pasted beneath print.
Provenance: Sold by London's Dulau and Company to the New York City bookseller Ernest R. Gee in 1928. Earlier ownership by W.E. Gladstone is suggested by a manuscript note from Dulau formerly laid into the front the first volume (now in the object file), which states that "These came from the Gladstone Library at Court Hey, Broad Green. The manuscript notes written below the caricatures are in the handwriting of W.E. Gladstone." William Reese Company; February 2024.
Extent: 1 print : plate mark 19.2 x 23.7 cm, on sheet 43.3 x 24 cm
Extent of Digitization: This object has been completely digitized.
Language: English