Caricature, Vanity Fair, Top Hat , the Lord Dictator, Male Fashion, British Politician, 1875

John Thomas Freeman-Mitford, 1st Earl of Redesdale, (1805 - 2 May 1886) was a Protestant, and member of the the House of Lords. Here he stands,  hands in pockets, pleased expression, sporting mutton-chop side burns.

Antique chromolithograph by APE, Carlo Pelligrini (1839-1889)

Published by Vincent Brook, Day & Son Ltd for Vanity Fair London Feb 27, 1875.

Image Size= 18.4 x 31 cm / 7.4 x 12.4 inch

Condition = Fair. Two soft folds evident from the rear otherwise paper in excellent condition.

Carlo Pelegrini : Born in Capua, Italy, he traveled to London, met Thomas Bowles, creator of Vanity Fair, and worked as the main caricaturist together with Stephen Ward (Spy) from 1869-1889. He was a flamboyant character, openly homosexual at a time when it was illegal in Britain, was fastidious about his appearance, and sued many times for his lampooning illustration, none being successful. Spy became famous after his death but Pelligini, however many collectors consider APE to be technically superior. In his early years he signed his work as “Singe” changing it to APE, Italian for “bee”.