This is a complete set of five etchings and aquatints by James Gillray and published by Hannah Humphrey in 1806.
I have taken lots of images so that you can fully assess all five of the prints on offer here.
As you can see, I have had them all professionally re-framed so you will be able to just hang them on your wall.
James Gillray (1756 - 1815) was the greatest and most definitive satirist of the age, producing caricatures of politics and social life, often directed at the Royal Family. These five images looks at University Life in Georgian Britain. He was regarded as one of the two most influential political "cartoonists" - the other being William Hogarth - who made the original set of Rake's Progress prints back in 1730s. This series of prints was probably inspired by the Hogarth set.
This set dates to 1806 when Gillray's eyesight was beginning to fail. He began to wear spectacles but they proved to be unsatisfactory and Gillray was unable to produce work to his previous high standards. He produced his last print in September 1809.
The series is called "The Rakes Progress at University" and consists of five images.
They consist of the following:
No. 1 - "Ah me! what perils doth that Youth encounter, who dares within the Fellow's Bog to enter."
No. 2 - "Ah me! - that thou the Freshman's-Guide should'st read Yet venture on the hallowed grass to tread."
No. 3 - "The Master's Wig the guilty wight appals / Who brings his Dog within the College walls".
No. 4 - "Expulsion waits that Son of Alma Mater / Who Dares to show his face in Boot or Gaiter? "
No. 5 - ""Convened for wearing Gaiters - sad offence! Expelled - nor e'en permitted a defence."
I am listing each print at a fair price of £125 each (they were £50 each to frame!). They are in fine antique condition and have their original hand-colouring. They look just lovely with their new frames and mounts - all the same size so you can hang as a set. Each frame measures: 36 x 46.5 cm.
Other sets of these prints are held in the National Portrait Gallery, the British Museum, London and the Paul Mellon Centre (Yale), major public collections in the states also have sets in their collections.
The set is framed and will look fine on display. The five framed works will be posted to you with Parcelforce 24. Sadly, I would be unable to post to you outside the UK.