Cynicus (Martin Anderson); The Great Bank Fraud; An Urgent Warning to Business Men, Signed

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 Great Bank Fraud; An Urgent Warning to Business Men, published by Cynicus, York Place, Edinburgh. Undated, but likely to be 1915-1923, and the price listed on the title page is marked as a 'War Price'. Signed by the author to the title page. A markedly different book from most of his published works. Appears to be a very scarce volume with just 5 copies listed in Worldcat (3 in Scotland, and 2 in England).

A good softback with raised embossed titles. Sun toned spine, and wear and rubbing. Worn edges.

Text is good throughout with scattered spotting. Some red ink transfer to title.

A rather rare volume.

Text in English.

Weight approximately 76g (unpacked). 

63pp.

Approx Dimensions: 

Approximately 188mm high x 132mm wide 8mm deep.