Up for sale is one 2-sided page from a fabulous and very rare book entitled Men
of Worcester in Caricature, with
drawings by Luther Curtis Phifer, Worcester, Massachusetts, who was also the
publisher. This first and only edition was produced in 1917 and contains 280
pages and over 270 caricatures of Worcester area businessmen from all sorts of industries, services, and occupations. Since the binding on this book was totally shot, with most pages coming away from the binding, I'm selling pages from the book instead of trying to sell the whole book in this condition.
How clever the artist was in capturing each person,
showing not only their profession but their hobbies or interests, clubs or
societies they belonged to and more. As it says in the Foreword, “…the
caricaturist has transmitted from the image left upon his brain the likes of
his different subjects; men who have made their mark in the business and
professional world; some serving their country, state and city at
present, others having filled the same offices of trust and honor. He has
whipped into their faces and forms touches that mark their personalities,
called peculiarities… The artist has endeavored to make this work
meaningful as well as amusing. He knows no hate, venom is not mixed with his
ink, nor has his pen been shaped into a dagger with which to pierce the
sensibilities of his subjects.”
As you can see in the scans, on page 83, R.W. Rollins is President and General Manager of Worcester Electric Light Company, providing illumination for both city streets and homes.
Page 84 shows Frank A. Drury, President of Merchants National Bank. He enjoyed automobiling and ice fishing.
This page measures about 8 x 10", very good condition, ready to frame. These caricatures are wonderful pieces of Worcester's history!
Please email me with any
questions you have before buying, and visit our eBay store, Paper Emporium, for
hundreds of vintage photos, cigar labels, maps, and other ephemera!
Thanks for looking!