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Tegg’s Complete Collection of Caricatures relative to Mrs Clarke and the circumstances arising from the investigation of the conduct of His Royal Highness the Duke of York before the House of Commons 1809. London: Thomas Tegg, 1809.
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[ROWLANDSON, Thomas (1756-1827)]
Tegg’s Complete Collection of Caricatures relative to Mrs Clarke and the circumstances arising from the investigation of the conduct of His Royal Highness the Duke of York before the House of Commons 1809. London: Thomas Tegg, 1809.
First edition, finely hand-coloured, of this series of caricatures in which Rowlandson irreverently mocks the royal household promoting calls for parliamentary reform to reduce corruption in the sale of offices. The public scandal was caused by the revelations of Mary Anne Clarke (1776-1852), mistress of George Ill's favourite son, Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany. Whilst the Duke of York's mistress, Clarke had been involved in the sale of army commissions through her influence on the Duke of York. Their affair had ended in 1805, but in order to ensure Clarke's silence York had been paying her an annual pension. He ceased to do so in 1808 and in retaliation Clarke threatened to publish her memoirs on the subject. As rumours circulated and were promoted in the public domain by journalists, satirists and caricaturists, Gwyllim Lloyd Wardle [one of Clarke's other lovers] instigated an open inquiry in the House of Commons on the Duke of York's behaviour, and the Duke of York was forced to resign his commission as head of the British Army. Bobins IV, 1354.
Oblong folio (267 x 405mm). Engraved frontispiece by Bate, title and 54 engraved plates, both coloured by a contemporary hand, after Rowlandson (including pictorial title) 2 additional contemporary hand-coloured engraved portraits of Mrs Clarke, a third additional plate of ‘Mrs Cary another York Beauty’ by Bate, a letterpress broadside ‘Royal Chronicle of Cuckoldum’ tipped-in at end, contemporary newspaper cuttings laid down in a few margins and on verso of 1 plate, gilt crowned monogramed 'W' stamped in lower margin of title (minor marginal soiling in places). Modern blue morocco with red morocco lettering piece on upper cover, bound for Denis Collins by Jill Prole, in a modern blue-cloth clam-shell box. Provenance: Denis Collins (1948-2015; sold Bonhams 16 March 2016, lot 92).
Tegg’s Complete Collection of Caricatures relative to Mrs Clarke and the circumstances arising from the investigation of the conduct of His Royal Highness the Duke of York before the House of Commons 1809. London: Thomas Tegg, 1809.
First edition, finely hand-coloured, of this series of caricatures in which Rowlandson irreverently mocks the royal household promoting calls for parliamentary reform to reduce corruption in the sale of offices. The public scandal was caused by the revelations of Mary Anne Clarke (1776-1852), mistress of George Ill's favourite son, Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany. Whilst the Duke of York's mistress, Clarke had been involved in the sale of army commissions through her influence on the Duke of York. Their affair had ended in 1805, but in order to ensure Clarke's silence York had been paying her an annual pension. He ceased to do so in 1808 and in retaliation Clarke threatened to publish her memoirs on the subject. As rumours circulated and were promoted in the public domain by journalists, satirists and caricaturists, Gwyllim Lloyd Wardle [one of Clarke's other lovers] instigated an open inquiry in the House of Commons on the Duke of York's behaviour, and the Duke of York was forced to resign his commission as head of the British Army. Bobins IV, 1354.
Oblong folio (267 x 405mm). Engraved frontispiece by Bate, title and 54 engraved plates, both coloured by a contemporary hand, after Rowlandson (including pictorial title) 2 additional contemporary hand-coloured engraved portraits of Mrs Clarke, a third additional plate of ‘Mrs Cary another York Beauty’ by Bate, a letterpress broadside ‘Royal Chronicle of Cuckoldum’ tipped-in at end, contemporary newspaper cuttings laid down in a few margins and on verso of 1 plate, gilt crowned monogramed 'W' stamped in lower margin of title (minor marginal soiling in places). Modern blue morocco with red morocco lettering piece on upper cover, bound for Denis Collins by Jill Prole, in a modern blue-cloth clam-shell box. Provenance: Denis Collins (1948-2015; sold Bonhams 16 March 2016, lot 92).
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Sale room notice
Please note that this publication is lacking 6 Clarke plates, but is extra-illustrated with another Tegg plate of the launch of a frigate. Copies of the work often vary in make-up, and this lot is sold as a collection of plates, not subject to return.