Cynicus (Martin Anderson); The Satires of Cynicus, 1892, Signed, hardback

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, Drury Lane, London and Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Limited, 1892. This is attractively signed by the author to the free endpaper opposite the title page.

A good blue cloth hardback with gilt decoration and titles. Bevelled edges. Rubbed, bumped and scuffed. Cracked to gutter after first free endpaper.

Text is good with scattered foxing throughout. Gilt edges to text block. Previous owner's gift inscription to first free endpaper with 1892 date.

Text in English.

Weight approximately 330g (unpacked). 

Unnumbered pages.

Approx Dimensions: 

Approximately 190mm high x 144mm wide 14mm deep.