John Bull Collection

The Devilfish in Egyptian Waters. An American cartoon from 1882 depicting John Bull (England)
IMPERIALISM CARTOON, 1882. The Devilfish in Egyptian Waters. An American cartoon from 1882 depicting John Bull (England) as the octopus of imperialism grabbing land on every continent

John Bull taking Luncheon or British Cooks cramming Old Grumble Gizzard with Bonne Chere
2966820 John Bull taking Luncheon or British Cooks cramming Old Grumble Gizzard with Bonne Chere, pub 1798 (hand coloured engraving) by Gillray

The Modern Job! Or John Bull and his Comforts!, 1816
The Modern Job! Or John Bull and his Comforts!, Pub. 1816 (hand coloured engraving)

General strike in Britain, May 1926. John Bull telling the Trades Union Council that Britain would resist strike action. Cartoon by Bernard Partridge from " Punch", London, 12 May 1926

Lloyd George (1863-1945): Conservative poster, against Old Age Pensions, 1905-6
BAL11545 Lloyd George (1863-1945): Conservative poster, against Old Age Pensions, 1905-6; Private Collection.

'Royal Doctors Bringing Boney to Pott' Anonymous cartoon, published 5 July 1815
BRO43283 'Royal Doctors Bringing Boney to Pott' Anonymous cartoon, published 5 July 1815; Private Collection; (add.info.: Napoleon sits on a chamber pot surrounded by John Bull, Wellington)

Wireless telegraphy, 1899
1577300 Wireless telegraphy, 1899; (add.info.: Wireless telegraphy by Louis Dalrymple 1866-1905, artist 1899. John Bull labelled "England" standing on a rock labelled "South)

The laying of the Atlantic telegraph cable, 1858
3478896 The laying of the Atlantic telegraph cable, 1858; (add.info.: Cartoon from Punch, 1858, at the time of the laying of the Atlantic telegraph cable)

John Bull making a new batch of ships to send to the lakes, 1814
1574986 John Bull making a new batch of ships to send to the lakes, 1814; (add.info.: John Bull making a new batch of ships to send to the lakes)

John Bull, 1798
1574855 John Bull, 1798; (add.info.: John Bull, the leviathan of the ocean or the French fleet sailing into the mouth of the Nile! A cartoon showing John Bull eating French sailing ships)

Telegraph cable linking Britain and her colony India, 1850
3479166 Telegraph cable linking Britain and her colony India, 1850; (add.info.: The telegraph cable linking Britain and her colony India is depicted as a conversation between John Bull and Britannia)

A crazed man representing the Czar of "Russia" sitting on a throne
2623653 A crazed man representing the Czar of "Russia" sitting on a throne; (add.info.: Chromolithograph depicting a crazed man representing the Czar of "Russia" sitting on a)

Print of John Bull, 1897
1574148 Print of John Bull, 1897; (add.info.: Print by Udo Keppler, 1872-1956, artist. shows John Bull sitting in a chair)

Miniature John Bull, known as English Tom Thumb
2603717 Miniature John Bull, known as English Tom Thumb; (add.info.: The Miniature John Bull also known as the English Tom Thumb)

'Political Chess Players or Boney Bewildered' by Williams, published 4 March 1814 (engraving)
BRO43286 'Political Chess Players or Boney Bewildered' by Williams, published 4 March 1814 (engraving) by Unknown Artist

Cartoon titled 'Barbarians at Play'
5309161 Cartoon titled 'Barbarians at Play'; (add.info.: Cartoon titled 'Barbarians at Play'. John Bull comments that football should be a gentleman's game)

John Bull Learning a New Movement, published March 21, 1799. Creator: Unknown
John Bull Learning a New Movement, published March 21, 1799....against the next Campaign'. John Bull: Lord love ye my good Masters - do give us something new - I be tired of all the old Jigs - I

John Bull at His Studies, published March 13, 1799. Creator: Unknown
John Bull at His Studies, published March 13, 1799....attended by his Guardian Angell (British prime minister William Pitt: "Cease rude Boreas blustering railer)

A Lock'd Jaw for John Bull, published November 23, 1795. Creator: Unknown
A Lock'd Jaw for John Bull, published November 23, 1795. British prime minister William Pitt: Don't be alarmed Johnny

A Modern Hercules, published November 17, 1795. Creator: Unknown
A Modern Hercules, published November 17, 1795....Or, a Finishing Blow for Poor John Bull'. British prime minister William Pitt, brandishing a club inscribed Convention Bill

A Frontispiece to the New Red Book, published June 13, 1816. Creator: William Heath
A Frontispiece to the New Red Book, published June 13, 1816. John Bull: Well you have got it all, Pray what do you all do for it'; Napoleon

Beecham's Pills, The world's Medicine, 1886. Creator: Unknown
Beecham's Pills, The world's Medicine, 1886. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper Volume 33. January to June, 1886"

Parthenia or the Maydenhead of the first musicke that ever was printed for the Virginalls, ca 1613. Creator: Anonymous
Parthenia or the Maydenhead of the first musicke that ever was printed for the Virginalls, ca 1613. Private Collection

Portrait of composer and organist John Bull (1562/63-1628), 17th century. Creator: Anonymous
Portrait of composer and organist John Bull (1562/63-1628), 17th century. Private Collection

John Bull in a Beard; The Beard and Moustache Movement, 1854. Creator: George Cruikshank
John Bull in a Beard; The Beard and Moustache Movement, 1854. From "Cassells Illustrated Family Paper; London Weekly 31/12/1853 - 30/12/1854"

John Bull Reading the Extraordinary Red Book, published June 20, 1816. Creator: William Elmes
John Bull Reading the Extraordinary Red Book, published June 20, 1816

Dr. Sangrado Relieving John Bull of Yellow Fever, published February 25, 1795. Creator: Isaac Cruikshank
Dr. Sangrado Relieving John Bull of Yellow Fever, published February 25, 1795

An Irish Union!, published January 30, 1799. Creator: Isaac Cruikshank
An Irish Union!, published January 30, 1799

John Bull Humbugg'd Alias both Ear'd, published May 12, 1794. Creator: Isaac Cruikshank
John Bull Humbugg'd Alias both Ear'd, published May 12, 1794

John Bull Perusing the Extraordinary Gazette, published October 10, 1808. Creator: Isaac Cruikshank
John Bull Perusing the Extraordinary Gazette, published October 10, 1808

Poker and Tongs, Punch cartoon concerning naval rivalry between Britain
700913 Poker and Tongs, Punch cartoon concerning naval rivalry between Britain and Germany, 8th January 1908 (litho) by Raven-Hill

Partition of China at the time of the Boxer Rebellion, 1900. Private Collection

The Worlds Plunderers. Germany, England, and Russia grab what they can of Africa and Asia
CARTOON: IMPERIALISM, 1885. The Worlds Plunderers. Germany, England, and Russia grab what they can of Africa and Asia. American cartoon by Thomas Nast, 1885

Monroe Doctrine Cartoon
MONROE DOCTRINE CARTOON. Uncle Sam - Thats A Live Wire, Gentlemen! A 1902 cartoon by W.A. Rogers on German and British claims against Venezuela

Income Tax, 1798. John Bull scratches his head at William Pitts (1759-1806) introduction of Income Tax. Pitt is shown as an angel playing a harp. Hand-coloured cartoon in the style of Gillray

A New Piece, 1882. Artist: Joseph Swain
A New Piece, 1882. The Liberal Prime Minister, Gladstone, has submitted his new piece to Mr John Bull in his guise as a theatre manager

Intercepted, 1881. Artist: Joseph Swain
The Liberal Prime Minister, Gladstone, also held the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer and this cartoon shows him in a chefs outfit feeding his dog from the bowl of surplus

An Ugly Rush!, 1870. Artist: Joseph Swain
An Ugly Rush!, 1870. Womans Vote Bill. A stout John Bull, the representative of the British people or, in this case, British men

CARTOON: LEAGUE OF NATIONS. If we were in the League of Nations. American cartoon, 1920, showing John Bull (Britain) demanding more soldiers from Uncle Sam as American men return wounded or killed

Blockade against Blockade or John Bull a Match for Boney, 1807 (coloured etching)
3244718 Blockade against Blockade or John Bull a Match for Boney, 1807 (coloured etching) by Woodward, George Moutard (c.1760-1809); National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth, Hampshire

The Present State of Great Britain, 1779. Creator: James Phillips
The Present State of Great Britain, 1779

Laceing [sic] a Dandy, January 26, 1819. January 26, 1819. Creator: Anon
Laceing [sic] a Dandy, January 26, 1819

LLoyd George, portrayed as the travelling salesman for John Bull & Co. visits Russia where he finds Trotsky fighting
KDC400244 LLoyd George, portrayed as the travelling salesman for John Bull & Co. visits Russia where he finds Trotsky fighting, March, 1923 (litho) by Partridge

John Bull and Free Trade (colour litho)
3641726 John Bull and Free Trade (colour litho) by Moreland, Arthur (1876-1951); Private Collection; (add.info.: John Bull and Free Trade. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

John Bulls attitude to England becoming a dumping ground for foreign surplus (colour litho)
3093163 John Bulls attitude to England becoming a dumping ground for foreign surplus (colour litho) by Moreland, Arthur (1876-1951); Private Collection; (add.info)

John Bulls Fireside (colour litho)
818335 John Bulls Fireside (colour litho) by Moreland, Arthur (1876-1951); Private Collection; (add.info.: John Bulls Fireside. Anti-free trade postcard.); Look and Learn / Elgar Collection

John Bulls attitude to England being invaded by foreigners (colour litho)
3093162 John Bulls attitude to England being invaded by foreigners (colour litho) by Moreland, Arthur (1876-1951); Private Collection; (add.info)

War balloons. Illustration for Le Rire (colour litho)
2786554 War balloons. Illustration for Le Rire (colour litho) by Camara, Leal de (1877-1948); Private Collection; (add.info.: War balloons)

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"John Bull: The Octopus of Imperialism and British Identity" This captivating caption delves into the multifaceted persona of John Bull, symbolizing England's influence across continents. In an American cartoon from 1882 titled "The Devilfish in Egyptian Waters, " John Bull is depicted as an octopus, representing imperialism's relentless grasp on land worldwide. Another intriguing portrayal comes in the form of "John Bull taking Luncheon or British Cooks cramming Old Grumble Gizzard with Bonne Chere. " This image showcases British cooks filling John Bull's stomach with delectable delicacies, reflecting the nation's indulgence and comfort during that era. Moving back to history, we encounter a thought-provoking piece called "The Modern Job. Or John Bull and his Comforts. " dating back to 1816. This artwork sheds light on Britain's resilience amidst challenges faced during those times. Fast forward to May 1926 when Britain experienced a general strike; this event finds its place in our collection. A powerful depiction captures the essence of this significant moment for workers' rights within the country. Naval rivalry between Britain is humorously portrayed in a Punch cartoon titled "Poker and Tongs. " Through clever imagery, it highlights the competitive nature surrounding naval dominance at that time. "The Partition of China at the time of Boxer Rebellion" takes us to 1900 when global powers divided Chinese territories. This visual representation emphasizes how John Bull played a role alongside other nations in shaping world affairs during this tumultuous period. Shifting gears slightly, we explore another influential doctrine through a Monroe Doctrine Cartoon. It illustrates America asserting its authority over Latin America while showcasing how Britain observed these developments closely. Delving deeper into history reveals an early instance of income tax implementation through an artwork from 1798 aptly named "Income Tax. " Here we witness one facet contributing to John Bull's financial stability throughout centuries past.