1940s Commonplace Book - Mockery, Musings, Satire, Graveyard Humor, Fantasy and Politics

United Kingdom, 1940. Wrap titled The College" Drawing Book split down down the spine and kept separate to prevent further discoloration; binding thread has severed; else near fine.. This book is represents the true meaning of commonplace book - interpretations of things read or observed on the streets, in museums and throughout one's environs. It focuses on vignettes of history, military satire and gallows humor with smatterings of everything else. Executed in ink and watercolor. Constructed as one to four thought stories or interpretations per page. All accompanied with thick outlined illustrations with vibrant color washes. The accompanying art is zany, skillfully executed and tells much of the story. A segment often begins with a statement of fact followed by mockery or musings on the subject. The first page is themed "Note from Biblical Quotations" e.g. lighting our darkness, give us this day our daily bread and though shalt not steal. This is followed by The Chest in Which the Domsday (sp.) was Kept and Domesday Book Number 1. Followed by The New Shako For Infantry 1860, on a royal marine officer (Sir George Rodney Admiral), Ring of Martin Luther and Signet Ring of Mary Queen of Scots. Page 4 focuses on English presentation swords while the facing page is Esquimaux tools and the Royal Red Cross. Next is commentary on Saint Asaph Cathedral and Women of the Holyland.

The next pages are Pompey's Pillar, Gladstone as a young man and Cleopatria's Needle, recruiting marching dogs, potatoes and a London Fire-Float. It continues with Haydock Lodge, The "Greatestest" honour a British Soldier can Earn, Some Formosa Quakes and Shakes and the Persian crown of the Emperor of Germany. For a change of venue it progresses to the King of Arrancan and an Australian Aborigine and his Boomerang, leading to an Antique Snuff Box, Egyptian Key of Life and Stonehenge.

This is followed by A Dream Impression, The Nina Chakaral Near Cabul, Cradle and Chairs of Charles VI of Scotland, Passion Flower, Mohammed Seuleman Sutlan, Borneo, The Bear Heart, The Bare Beer Glass, St. John resting in the Tale of Patmos,

The final illustration is a well dressed woman with a large dog on a leash. It is captioned "She could lead her dog bur Her dog of a husband could not be lead"...

Measures 10.75" by 7". 16 pages.