On the 'Quay Vive!' John Bull: 'What, maties! Want some o' my coal to get to China! Right you are!' (to himself) 'I can always stop the Supplies!'

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On the 'Quay Vive!' John Bull: 'What, maties! Want some o' my coal to get to China! Right you are!' (to himself) 'I can always stop the Supplies!'

Sir John Tenniel (1820-1914)

Price

£1,250

Signed

Signed with monogram and dated 1898
Signed, inscribed with title and 'Punch', and dated 'Jan 22 1898' on card below mount

Medium

Pencil

Dimensions

8 x 6 ¼ inches

Provenance

Henry Sotheran & Co, London, 1911

Illustrated

Punch, 22 January 1898

Exhibited

'The Illustrators: The British Art of Illustration 1806-2025', Chris Beetles Gallery, London, November 2025-January 2026, no 9

In the late 19th century, British coal, particularly from South Wales, was exported for use in the shipping industry across Europe. In Tenniel’s cartoon, John Bull, the representation of Great Britain, addresses the nations of Russia, Germany and France, who have arrived for their share of British coal. John Bull’s sotto voce comment suggests at the scepticism felt in Britain at the time towards sending coal to Britain’s industrial and military rivals.

The present cartoon was produced at a critical period for Welsh coal mining, as in September 1897 Welsh colliers had given a six month ultimatum to end a sliding scale system where their wages were based on the price coal fetched at market, rather than the amount of coal they mined. Though negotiations began in March 1898, they soon collapsed and in April 1898 the colliers went on strike, which would last until September of that year.

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