The royal cot, or, The great babe taken ill new version. [graphic]

Description

Title: The royal cot, or, The great babe taken ill new version. [graphic]
Alternative Title: Great babe taken ill
Creator: Cruikshank, Robert, 1789-1856, printmaker
Contributor: Pritchard, C. E., publisher.
Published / Created: [approximately September 1820]
Publication Place: London
Publisher: Published by C.E. Pritchard, Islington Green
Abstract: "Heading to a broadside printed in two columns. A sequel to No. 13764. George IV, a whiskered infant, lies feverish and fractious in a cot decorated with Chinese figures and hung with bells. He is surrounded by Ministers. Sidmouth, holding a doctor's gold-headed cane, feels his pulse, saying: "Dredful sympton's [sic] a raging Pulse." A bottle labelled 'Dolbys Carminative' (as in British Museum Satires No. 13764) projects from his pocket. Liverpool, with pap-boat and spoon, says: "I thought how it would be, that Foriegn Emetick has been too strong for his weak Nerves." Castlereagh, standing between two lawyers, puts a hand on the Babe's forehead, saying: "how hot his poor dear head feels." One lawyer (? Copley) tries to push back a leg within the cot, saying: "If he could but stand on his Legs once more we might have hopes, but I'm afraid he has Caught the Rickets--" The other (? Gifford): "A sae [sic] voyage by all means Brou--ms drops should have been taken with more caution as they are very Searching." An old woman (left) holds out a ribbon: "Here's the R--y--l Leading Strings," while an apothecary (right) using a large pestle and mortar says: "O! what a fogo what a mixture what a mess." Behind him are shelves ranged with druggist's jars. In the foreground toys are scattered, chiefly military, as in British Museum Satires No. 13764; they are: 'Royal Play things'. There is also a rocking-horse on which are two toy lancers. In front of the fire napkins are hanging, and on the mantelshelf are medicine-bottles and a doll. In the foreground is an overturned child's commode, the pan inscribed 'Royal Stole'. ...."--British Museum online catalogue
Description: Title printed in letterpress below image.
Attribution to Robert Cruikshank and approximate date of publication from the British Museum catalogue.
Sheet trimmed within plate mark on three sides.
Nine stanzas of verse in two columns below title, printed in letterpress: Run, Sid-th, run; send for a nurse, the R-y-l Babe's quite ill ...
"Price one shilling. Entered at Stationers' Hall"--Below imprint.
Publisher's advertisement at bottom of sheet: N.B. More good things in preparation, by the same author.
Watermark: Gater 1818.
Mounted to 58 x 39 cm.
Mounted on leaf 38 in volume 1 of the W.E. Gladstone collection of caricatures and broadsides surrounding the "Queen Caroline Affair."
Figures of "Liverpool," "Sidmouth," "Geo. IV," and "Castlereagh" identified in black ink below image; date "July 1820" written beneath lower right corner of image. Blanks within the letterpress text have been completed in ink, spelling out the censored names "Sidmouth," "Brougham," "Liverpool," and "Sidmouth" (a second time), as well as the word "Royal" in two places. Typed extract of four 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 : image 15.7 x 23.1 cm, on sheet 39.8 x 24 cm
Extent of Digitization: This object has been completely digitized.
Edition: Fourth edition.
Language: English