Up for sale are two pages (one 2-sided pages) 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 Foreward, “…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.”
Page 203 shows Clarence C. Dodge, General Manager for George F. Blake Jr. & Company. Dodge liked fishing and bird hunting.
Page 204 shows Douglas P. Cook, Vice President and Manager for Boston Pressed Metal Company. He had the leading female part in the undergraduate show at Harvard for three years. He also did stunts on the piano or organ.
Each page measures about 8 x 10", all in very good condition, ready to frame. These are wonderful pieces of Worcester's history!
We have dozens of caricatures of Worcester business men on eBay and in our eBay store, Paper Emporium. Please email us if you're looking for someone in particular, and we'll let you know if we have his caricature.
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!