Description
Offered together are two original 1904 color lithograph plates by celebrated British caricaturist Sir Max Beerbohm. Both were issued in The Poets’ Corner, the William Heinemann, London portfolio featuring Beerbohm’s witty interpretations of prominent literary figures.
The pair includes:
* “Walt Whitman, Inciting the Bird of Freedom to Soar” – Whitman is shown exuberantly encouraging the American eagle beneath a waving United States flag
* “Dante in Oxford-Proctor: ‘Your Name and College?'” – Dante encounters Oxford university officials in one of Beerbohm’s characteristically humorous literary scenes
* Original large-format plates from Beerbohm’s important 1904 literary-caricature series
* Attractive restrained color printing and distinctive period typography
* Strong crossover appeal for collectors of Walt Whitman, Dante Alighieri, literary history, caricature art and early 20th-century prints
* An uncommon opportunity to acquire two complementary plates from the same celebrated portfolio as one coordinated lot
Both prints display age toning, scattered spotting and handling wear consistent with their age. Each has a diagonal tear extending from the lower-left edge toward or into the printed border, along with minor edge loss and old mounting remnants. Pencil identification appears beneath the images and is not an artist’s signature. The small printed “Max” within the Dante composition is part of the original printed image.
Despite the condition issues, the plates retain strong visual presence and would make an appealing framed literary-art grouping. Please view all photos carefully for dimensions, margins, mounting and complete condition details.
