Original Hand-Drawn National Coal Board Satire Cartoon by Brian Chandler (June 23 Issue)

An authentic, one-of-a-kind original hand-drawn cartoon by renowned mid-century British illustrator Brian Chandler, highly celebrated for his long-running residencies with the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and Commercial Motor magazine.

A brilliant piece of 1970s industrial and rural social commentary. Depicts two workers walking past an official "N.C.B. PRIVATE" signpost into a scarred landscape. The handwritten pencil caption reads: "Another six months and I reckon I'll be a hill farmer!"

This cartoon provides a witty look at N.C.B. opencast mining expansion and land reclamation. The National Coal Board frequently acquired rolling agricultural fields to clear them for surface coal extraction, which piled massive, mountainous dirt mounds (spoil tips) across the landscape. The joke delivers a biting double meaning: the developer or miner is ironically noting that the towering, artificial slate and slag heaps are growing so rapidly that in another six months, he will essentially be working on a mountain peak like a traditional rugged "hill farmer."

Complete with original print house annotations specifying the publication target ("BFS June 23 p31"), a layout directive reading "Here for next N.Board story", and strict column width constraints ("44 mm").

Hand-drawn in pen, ink, and mechanical dot shading on sturdy artist card stock measuring 8.25 inches by 4 inches. Signed "CHANDLER" in ink. In excellent vintage condition with crisp lines and light, genuine production handling wear.