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South East Asian Art and Antiques, & Antiquarian, Rare and Collectable books
South East Asian Art and Antiques, & Antiquarian, Rare and Collectable books
Cynicus (Martin Anderson); The Satires of Cynicus, Signed, paperback with Castle Cynicus postcard

Cynicus (Martin Anderson); The Satires of Cynicus, Signed, paperback with Castle Cynicus postcard

£75.00
SKU LAN8941

Cynicus, the pen name of Martin Anderson, was a Scottish artist, political and satirical cartoonist, postcard illustrator and publisher. Born in 1854, the son a a railway station master from Leuchars in Fife, Scotland, he died in 1932.

In the 1890s he enjoyed considerable success from his shop in Drury Lane, from which he published his works. His business, The Cynicus Publishing Company, also enjoyed popularity during the boom in picture postcard sales after the British Post Office allowed their use in the mail.

He moved to Edinburgh in 1915 where he ran a shop which was later destroyed by fire in 1924. He then retired to 'Castle Cynicus' in Balmullo in Fife. His work often highlighted the grotesque disparity between the lives of the wealthy and the ordinary citizen.

We have acquired a small collection of a number of Cynicus publications which we offer for sale here.

Here we have The Satires of Cynicus, published by The Cynicus Publishing Co, Castle Cynicus, Leuchars, Fife. Undated. This is signed by the author to the title page. The inside front cover also has a Castle Cynicus postcard pasted to the cover, with handwritten date to 1930, which would appear to be in the hand of Cynicus. Also, the last blank text page has a pasted down newspaper article reporting the death of Martin Anderson (Cynicus). The imprinted text and date on the image used is from 1903, but we presume it was just used by the reporting publication as it featured Cynicus at his easel.

A good softback with red paper covers with printed titles. The rear cover features the visual pun of a 'Lyre' with word 'Truth' written below. cover with some light soiling and creases and bumping. This softback version of this book appears to be very scarce.

Text is good throughout and is generally bright and clear. Half title page has remains of a label removal and a sticker stamp of the 'Commission of the Peace of Fife'. Light spotting to titles. Taped repair to lower corner of inside rear cover.

Text in English.

Weight approximately 110g (unpacked). 

63pp + 1pp.

Approx Dimensions: 

Approximately 214mm high x 139mm wide 8mm deep.