Opper, Frederick Burr, 1857-1937

Poor Tammany!

The Tammany Tiger, in ragged clothes, wears a campaign button that states “16 to 1 Bryan and Sewall” and a watch chain with a “Pawn Ticket” instead of the watch. The tiger bemoans the fact that the Republican Party platform promises “Prosperity for the Laborer and the Business Man” and “Prosperity for the Farmer” and the Democratic Party platform promises “Prosperity for Labor and Business.” The tiger gestures toward campaign banners, hanging in the background, for “McKinley and Hobart” and “Bryan and Sewall.” Caption: They’re all goin’ to git Prosperity, an’ I’m goin’ to git left!

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-11-04

Over-production

In this vignette cartoon Father Knickerbocker stands at center looking on in dismay at the site of a planned “49” story building near several other skyscrapers already under construction. The surrounding vignettes show an abundance of college athletes, excessive periods of mourning, a spate of frivolous lawsuits with juries that take “busy men” away from their work, “over-production of trashy newspapers and voracious newspaper readers,” and overly ostentatious “mausoleums.” Caption: Some New Year’s reflections on our great national weakness.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-12-30

The American millionaire at home and abroad; or, why a great many of our rich men ought to refrain from “crossing the pond”

A millionaire is shown, at center, in familiar surroundings at home, “Dignified, important and respected.” Surrounding vignettes show him while traveling through major European cities, where he is ignored, ridiculed, laughed at as the butt of practical jokes, and sometimes prone to boorish behavior at the gaming tables in Monte Carlo.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1897-05-12

Some popular conceptions that the wheeling mania will change

This vignette cartoon depicts changes to folklore, fairy tales, courtship, and punishment, that will result from the cycling craze. Vignettes include witches riding bicycles instead of brooms, Father Time riding a bicycle, Cupid running over victims with a bicycle instead of shooting arrows at them, fairies on bicycles, and a cyclist’s nightmare in Hell.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1897-07-21

Shylock Hanna – he is bound to have his pound of flesh

Marcus A. Hanna is Shylock, wearing a robe and holding a paper that states, “Understanding between Wm. McKinley and Mark Hanna. The aforesaid Mark Hanna shall have the Dictation of all Ohio Appointments, etc., etc.” Hanging from his waist are a purse labeled “Boodle” and a “Patronage Knife,” and extending from his pocket are balance scales.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1897-07-28

The right man for mayor of greater New York

Puck as Diogenes carries a lantern and a lithographic pen and seeks the perfect mayor for New York City. At center Puck gets the opinion of “The Republican Machine” (Thomas Collier Platt with the tail and ears of a fox) and “Tammany” Hall (Richard Croker with the tail and ears of the Tammany Tiger). In the surrounding vignettes, he hears the opinions of “The Sunday Closers” who respect the Sabbath, “The Reformers” who seek “a man of the highest ideals … and irreproachable character!” and have “Seth Low” at the top of their list, as well as “The Germans” and “The Bicyclers,” before returning to the “Office of Puck,” somewhat dismayed. Caption: Diogenes Puck starts out to find him, and gets a lot of varied information on the subject.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1897-07-04

Coming to the wrong shop

Rev. Dr. Howard Crosby holds a paper that states, “Petition for the Reduction of the Grog Shops in New York –Dr. Crosby.” He is standing in the “Council-Chamber of the New York Board of Aldermen,” facing a group of anthropomorphized liquor barrels, bottles, and jugs, some labeled “Rum Seller, Liquor Dealer, [and] Gin-Mill Keeper.” Caption: Chorus of Aldermen – “We will use our ‘very best judgement’ to assist this worthy movement.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-03-28

Brooklyn’s new champion – the old-timers “knocked out” by the prayer-cure “pounder”

In a boxing ring are Henry Ward Beecher, Thomas De Witt Talmage, and the “Rev. Dr. Monck” who has knocked them both out at a “Tournament of Sensationalism.” Monck wears a bandana labeled “Holy Healing Power” around his head and his right hand is inscribed “Worth $50,000 a Year.” He has hugely oversized fists. Beecher is slumped against the ropes, with a black eye. Talmage, not wearing boxing gloves, hangs over the ropes.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-04-25

The Irish declaration of independence that we are all familiar with

In a kitchen, a petite woman implores her muscular Irish cook to continue in her duties. The cook shakes her fist in defiance.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-05-09

A played-out tenor – from star to street-singer

Roscoe Conkling is a street musician singing in the street outside the “Washington Senatorial Opera-House.” With him is a small dog labeled “Howard Carroll” who is holding a hat into which Puck, shedding a tear, drops a coin, and two street urchins, one recognizable as Ulysses S. Grant. Caption: Signor Conklingini (singing) – When Grant slipped up upon his nomination, / And failed to reach the presidential station, / Ten long years back it put this luckless nation. / And hence I sing – I sing – in lonely – lo-ho-honely degradation!

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-05-16

The grand opening march over the Brooklyn Bridge

A large procession crosses the newly-completed Brooklyn Bridge. At the front, dressed as policemen with nightsticks, are several newspaper editors. Among them are James Gordon Bennett, Oswald Ottendorfer, Whitelaw Reid, Murat Halstead, Joseph Pulitzer, Charles A. Dana, and Carl Schurz. Puck follows at center on a white horse, with a group of dandies on the right, one labeled “Freddie,” and a group of “Political Tramps” on the left, including George M. Robeson, Ulysses S. Grant, Thomas Collier Platt, James G. Blaine, and Roscoe Conkling. John Kelly is at the lead of the “Tammany Heelers,” followed by Hubert O. Thompson with the “New York Street Cleaning Department.” Behind them comes “Puck’s Monopoly Target Company” with Russell Sage, William H. Vanderbilt, Jay Gould, and Cyrus W. Field. On the left is a masonic group labeled “F. & A.M.” carrying a goat on a pedestal. Beneath the bridge is a boat labeled “The Dynamiter” filled with angry anarchists. Caption: Puck follows the example of the illustrated newspapers, and gives an accurate picture of the event one day before it takes place – and don’t you forget it!

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-05-23

The feuds of the dudes

Two dandies walk with their bodyguards who are large, muscular men carrying boxing gloves. One wears a “Champion Belt.” Caption: Let them hire “sluggers” to protect them.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-05-30

Going to the bicycle tournament

Puck rides a bicycle, carrying crutches and a large book labeled “Medical and Surgical Directory.” Tied to the bicycle are “Bandages, Splints, [and a bottle of] Arnica.” A long line of cyclists follows. Caption: Puck on wheels with all the modern improvements.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-06-06

Puck’s coaching parade, 1883

Eight stagecoaches stand in a procession, each jammed with passengers. Riding in the first coach, labeled “Republican Harmony Coach,” are Chester Alan Arthur, Roscoe Conkling, James Gillespie Blaine, John Alexander Logan, Ulysses S. Grant, J. D. Cameron, George William Curtis, John Sherman, John F. Miller(?) and an unidentified man. Riding in the second coach, labeled “Dem. Love Feast Coach” and “One Republican thrown in to please Mr. Dana,” are Charles A. Dana, Benjamin F. Butler, Edward Cooper, Rutherford B. Hayes, Franklin Edson, Samuel J. Tilden, John Kelly, and Hubert O. Thompson. Riding in the third coach, labeled “Heavy Hack,” are Cardinal John McCloskey, Robert Green Ingersoll, “Jacobs, Potter, Storrs,” Howard Crosby, Henry Ward Beecher, and Theodore Tilton. Riding in the fourth coach, labeled “Monopoly,” are William H. Vanderbilt, Russell Sage, Cyrus W. Field, Jay Gould, and a box labeled Henry Clay. Riding in the fifth coach, labeled “Thespis,” are Lester Wallack, Rose Coghlan, Marie Geistinger, “T.P., J.E. Pearson, Levy,” Dion Boucicault, Edward Harrigan, and Tony Hart. The sixth coach is labeled “Homeopathy”; the seventh coach is labeled “Allopathy”; and the eighth coach is labeled “The Bruiser.” The horses pulling this last coach wear boxing gloves. Caption: [If this takes, we will have another one next year.]

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-06-13

An old saying twisted

Peter B. Olney, New York District Attorney, passes a paper that states “Charges Against the Central Office Detectives – Peter B. Olney, Dist. Att’y” over the head of Fredericka Mandelbaum to Thomas Byrnes at “Police-Head-Quarters,” who in turn passes to Olney a paper that states “Denial of Charges – Insp’r. Byrnes.” In the background is a small building labeled “Mrs. Mandelbaum Receiver of Stolen Goods” on which a notice has been posted that states “Mortgage – To Cover Bail and Costs of Trial.” Caption: When “honest men” fall out, thieves have to suffer.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1884-08-12

A little private mutual admiration scheme, – Joss Ben and his only priest, Sun-Sun

Benjamin F. Butler appears as a Chinese man sitting on a pedestal next to a pillar on the left that states “A Goodman Weighing 250 lbs.” and a paper lantern labeled “It Shines Only for US” on the right. In front of the pedestal is Charles A. Dana, also as a Chinese man, burning papers that state “Gen. Butler would not take fees from poor widows; he prefers monopolists’ fees,” “Anecdotes of Butler’s kind heart,” “Butler’s popularity,” “Butler’s statesmanship,” and “Butler’s praises.” A notice hanging on the wall on the right has been crossed out. It was published in the “New York Sun, September 17th, 1878,” and refers to Butler’s jump from the Democratic Party.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1884-08-27

The latest novelty

A mechanical wind-up toy railroad set, with large key, has Jay Gould circling on tracks that lead through a tunnel labeled “Court House” with openings labeled “Front Door” and “Back Door.” As Cyrus W. Field turns a crank at center, Gould moves along the track and enters at the “Back Door” of the tunnel, then exits, ahead of a foot labeled “Judge,” at the “Front Door.” Caption: “The Gould Game” – Kick him out of the front door, and he comes in at the back.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-01-10

Spoiling their slide

Benjamin F. Butler spreads ashes labeled “Censure, Exposure, Desire for Reform, [and] Criticism” on a slide in the snow labeled “Slide of Public Mismanagement” to the dismay of a group of children labeled “Factory Employee, Sup’t. of Charitable Institution, Prison Supt., Army Snob, Matron of Infant Asylum, Manager of Insane Asylum, [and] Superfluous Gov’t. Employee” on “Beacon Hill.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-01-17

The only Democratic presidential candidate who stands a chance of election in 1884

A man has hooks for hands and has labels over his ears and mouth that state “Deaf” and “Dumb.” Hanging from one hook is a paper that states “Elected.” Drowning in paper in the background are Benjamin Butler with notes that state “Big Talk Butler, Big Promises Butler, I’m Going to Reform Everything, B.F.B., [and] The Government Belongs to its Friends,” Winfield Scott Hancock with notes that state “Foolish Letters” and “What I Know About the Tariff Question, Hancock,” and Samuel J. Tilden, holding a quill pen, with a note labeled “Cipher Dispatches.” Caption: One who can neither make foolish speeches, write foolish letters, nor listen to foolish counsel.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-01-24

Congressional contempt

A “Republican” Congressman ice skates with a “Monopolist” on the “Capitol Skating Pond.” Together they hold a stick labeled “Money Interests.” Skating nearby is a man labeled “Democracy.” Between these men is another man who has fallen through the ice at a spot labeled “Needless Taxation.” His hat labeled “Tax Payer” rests on the ice. Caption: Republican Congressman – “He is howling for help.” Monopolist – “Throw him a promise!”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-01-31