5,923 Political cartoons Images: LOC's Public Domain Archive Public Domain Search

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The doctor indulged with his favorite scene, British Cartoon Print

Cartoon shows cleric Dr. Richard Price, kneeling on a crown with a demon on his back, peering through a peep-hole into the royal bedroom at Versailles, watching ruffians destroy the Queen's bed and bedroom in s... More

Roast beef & port or Bully Bramble Esqr., Justice of Peace in Wasp Tow...

"Portrait, W.L., of a stout man facing T.Q. to right, looking to left over his right shoulder. His left hand is thrust under his buttoned coat; his right (gloved) rests on a cane..." (Source: George) No. 24. Ca... More

Mandarina Tottidumpa, original dancing mistress to the first Emperour ...

Caricature. Public domain reproduction of political cartoon, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Fowls of a feather flock together / K., fecit, 1785.

Scottish cartoon shows a group of men conversing as balloons sail overhead. Possibly Scottish balloonist James Tytler and Italian balloonist Vincent Lunardi.

The coffee-house patriots, or news, from St. Eustatia / H. Bunbury Esq...

Print shows interior view of a coffeehouse, presumably in London, where several man of commerce appear disgruntled at the news of the successful campaign to capture Saint Eustatius, a port used by British merch... More

A sceene of sceenes. Elizabeth Cannings dream for ye good of her nativ...

Print shows Elizabeth Canning, transported to America, seated in a room. She looks alarmingly at an old crone pointing to a soldier's uniform. Through the open window can be seen British soldiers marching up a ... More

The great financier, or British economy for the years 1763, 1764, 1765

Print shows George Grenville holding a balance with scales "Debts" and "Savings", the debt far outweighs savings; among those in line to contribute their savings is a Native American woman representing America,... More

The Scotch Butchery, Boston, 1775, British Cartoon Print

Print shows Lords Bute and Mansfield conferring, to their right stands Simon Fraser and Lord Wedderburn, "Deputies" to the aforenamed. On the far right are soldiers wearing Highland dress (of the 71st Regiment ... More

The vis a vis bisected or The ladies coop / [M. Darly?]., British Cart...

"The interior of a closed carriage made visible by being bisected longitudinally. In it two young ladies of pleasing appearance sit face to face in profile..." (Source: George) This record contains unverified d... More

A vieu of Plymouth, British Cartoon Print

Print shows Lord Amherst, Lieutenant General of the Ordnance, wearing military uniform, looking into a peepshow for a view of the progress of the war in America. As Jeffery looks, the showman says, "There you s... More

Westminster election 1780 / E--g inv., British Cartoon Print

Print shows Lord Lincoln standing on the right of St. Paul's portico, Charles James Fox standing in the center with Britannia and the British lion, and on the left, James Young, acting as proxy for Admiral Rodn... More

John Bulls alternative. Book illustration from Library of Congress, Br...

Print shows John Bull (representing England) standing on his toes on a rock, a rope around his neck and tied to a limb above him; on the right, across a body of water (probably representing the English Channel)... More

Labour in vain or let them tug & be da--nd

Print shows Neptune, the British lion, Britannia, and a British sailor on a piece of land labeled "England" laughing derisively at a Dutchman, a Frenchman, a Spaniard, and a partly draped Native woman wearing a... More

Dominion of the sea, British Cartoon Print

Print shows Britannia in a boat with a fox on the prow at anchor in "Portland Road"; she is holding a staff with the banner of St. George and the British flag, and an olive branch in her right hand, her shield ... More

The discomfited duellists / Collings, del. ; Blake, sculp.

"The interior of a coffee-house. Two young men in regimentals stand near the fireplace (left); one, whose broken sword lies on the ground, is being threatened with a hot poker held to his nose by a man in ridin... More

L'ignorance prouvée. Ou les evénements de la journée du 11 juillet 178...

French cartoon ridicules the attempt of Abbé Miollan and Janinet to ascend in a hot air balloon by showing the balloon on fire and billowing smoke while being inflated on July 11, 1784 at the Luxembourg gardens... More

The funeral of Trade, who died of a mortal stab receiv'd on the 13th o...

"A scene near one of the City quays: empty warehouses on the right; dismantled ships in the background (left) with brooms at their mastheads showing that they are for sale..." (Source: George)

Law and equity, or A peep at Nando's, British Cartoon Print

"Thurlow, a barefooted penitent draped in a sheet by wearing his Chancellor's wig, approaches a coffee-house bar (left) within which stands a pretty young woman..." (Source: George) [Kingsbury?] This record con... More

Pal sangué Mr. l'Prieur v'la l'coup

Print with two scenes, one labeled "Le jeu de hazard" shows a meeting between the clergy, nobility, and the working class; the other labeled "Le goute patriotique" shows members of the three estates dining toge... More

The faith of treaties exemplified or John Bull's last effort to oblige...

A satire on the diplomatic situation in 1794, showing French soldiers shooting at raging bull, and saying "Vive la republic, Blood & plunder, no quarter to John Bull!" To the bull's back is strapped a bundle in... More

Vue de la montagne elevée au champ de la reunion

Print shows the Festival of the Supreme Being, inspired by Robespierre, planned by Jacques Louis David, to commemorate the second year of the Republic; a female figure, representing France, riding on a cart wit... More

Isaac Cruikshank - The Irish bull broke loose, British Cartoon Print

Print shows the "Irish Bull" tossing William Pitt into the air and about to do the same to Lord Dundas who runs to the left; on the far right, those opposed to Pitt's "Union Bill" cheer on the bull, "Go it my B... More

Anacreontick's in full song / Js. Gillray, invt. & fect., British Cart...

Eight elderly topers with pipes and glasses surround a small oblong table, on which are punch-bowl, wine-glasses, tobacco, &c. All are much caricatured; some sing, a parson sleeps, a dog howls... (George) This ... More

A pretty copy, British Cartoon Print

"A H. L. caricature portrait of Dr. Isaac Gossett, leaning his elbows on a table at a book auction, holding an open book, Hudibras, and gazing to the right ..." (Source: George) This record contains unverified ... More

Charming-well again, British Cartoon Print

The convalescent sits full face behind a small dinner-table. He holds up a glass of wine with a smile of satisfaction, and is about to carve a bird. He wears his nightcap. Behind his chair stands a stout footma... More

Wonders! Wonders!! Wonders!!! / Woodward, del. ; Rowlandson, scul., Br...

"Ten figures arranged in two rows, each with a caption ..." (Source: George) This record contains unverified data from George. Filed in Caricature Magazine, London (260-285). Catalogue of Political and Personal... More

True reform of Parliament,--i.e.--patriots lighting a revolutionary-bo...

Print shows Sir Francis Burdett making a speech and waving a bonnet rouge shaped like a fool's cap as Horne Tooke lights on fire a pile of acts and charters, as well as a Bible, with a flaming baton labeled "Se... More

The modern Circe or a sequel to the petticoat / E. Delaney del. ; Crui...

Cartoon shows Mrs. Mary Anne Clarke, wearing the Duke of York's military cloak, extending it to cover a crowd of miniature soldiers, civilians and clergymen clustering around her with outstretched arms; Mr. Wad... More

The set-too between Old Price and Spangle Jack the Shewman - fought wi...

A pugilistic encounter, over new theater prices, between John Philip Kemble, tall and muscular, and "Old Price," a much smaller and weaker opponent. Forms part of : British Cartoon Prints Collection (Library o... More

High life below stairs! / I R C, fecit., British Cartoon Print

"The Regent, very drunk, sups in the kitchen at the Pavilion, at a table close to the fire ..." (Source: George) This record contains unverified data from George. Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires pre... More

The sailor's description of a chase & capture / J Sherm, invt. [Lieut....

"A burly sailor (right) sits with five other sailors, one a negro, and two perhaps being petty officers, drinking grog at a plank-table slung from the roof ..." (Source: George) This record contains unverified ... More

The political drama. No. 61. Old grill among the paddies, British Cart...

Print shows William Cobbett riding on a large gridiron borne by a ragged troop of caricatured Irishmen in a procession following a man carrying a flag pole topped with a death's head labeled "Tom Pain" and flyi... More

The downfall of Mother Bank - Public domain drawing

A pro-Jackson satire applauding the President's September 1833 order for the removal of federal deposits from the Bank of the United States. The combined opposition to this move from Bank president Nicholas Bid... More

Political Quixotism shewing the consequences of sleeping in patent mag...

Print shows President Jackson, sword in hand, during a nightmare, fighting a hydra with many fierce heads labeled "U.S. Bank", "Deposits", "Bribery", "Pensions", "[...] of the People", and "Corruption of the [.... More

Set to between Old Hickory and Bully Nick

Satire on the public conflict between Andrew Jackson and Nicholas Biddle over the future of the Bank of the United States, and the former's campaign to destroy it. The print is sympathetic to Jackson, portrayi... More

New method of assorting the mail, as practised by Southern slave-holde...

A portrayal of the nocturnal raid on the Charleston post office by a mob of citizens and the burning of abolitionist mails found there in July 1835. Mail sacks are handed through a forced window of the ransack... More

A Democratic voter. Book illustration from Library of Congress

The artist satirizes the split in party loyalties between the Locofoco and Tammany factions of New York City Democrats. In particular he belittles the Irish immigrants widely recruited by the party at the time... More

Whig bazaar - Political cartoon, public domain image

Publd. by H.R. Robinson, 52 Cortlandt St. N-York. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1837 by H.R. Robinson, in the Clerks Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern Distr... More

Loco Foco scramble for collectors licenses

Democratic patronage in New York is parodied in a scene of Loco Foco drivers or carmen rushing for cab licenses distributed by recently appointed collector of the port, Democratic stalwart Jesse Hoyt. Hoyt repl... More

The new code of chivalry or what we would have done. As approved by "...

The second of two satires by Chambers on events surrounding the killing of Maine Congressman Jonathan Cilley by Kentucky Representative William J. Graves in a February 24, 1838, duel. (See also "Scene in Washin... More

Progress of reform!!! No. 1 - Political cartoon, public domain image

A scene in New York, outside the gates of City Hall Park. Two well-dressed men with top hats overturn the table of two apple-women. One of the men (from all appearances a Loco Foco radical Democrat) shouts at t... More

The Democratic funeral of 1848 - Political cartoon, public domain imag...

Foreseeing political death for the Democrats in the election, the artist imagines a funeral of the party's standard-bearers with a procession of the faithful. Democratic senators (left to right) Sam Houston of ... More

A faut esperer q'eu se jeu la finira bentot

Print shows the nobility and the clergy, representing the estates general, riding on the back of a man representing the working class, or third estate; the man is bent under their weight and supports himself by... More

Scene in a New Hampshire court.--General Pierce examining a witness. S...

Two humorous incidents supposedly from the life of Franklin Pierce. On the left, a repartee wherein Pierce, the distinguished trial lawyer, is embarrassed by an ignorant witness. Armed with pages of notes, Pie... More

Loco Foco hunters treeing a candidate

A satire on the Democrats' or "Loco Focos'" 1852 pursuit of Franklin Pierce for the presidential nomination. At the foot of the White Mountains in the "Dismal Swamp," an immense, swampy region of North Carolina... More

Jeff Davis on the right platform, or the last "act of secession"

A caricature of Jefferson Davis, probably issued not long after the bombardment of Fort Sumter, but certainly postdating his February 1861 election as president of the Confederacy. Davis is shown standing on a ... More

The Southern Confederacy a fact!!! Acknowledged by a might prince and ...

A biting vilification of the Confederacy, representing it as a government in league with Satan. From left to right are: "Mr. Mob Law Chief Justice," a well-armed ruffian carrying a pot of tar; Secretary of Stat... More

The old general ready for a "movement"

Confident Union propaganda from the summer of 1861, claiming dominance over Confederate troops led by generals P. G. T. Beauregard and Gideon Pillow. Union commander Winfield Scott sits on a mound in the cente... More

Hard times in Ole Varginny, an worse a cumin'! Scene--Rebel pickets in...

Cartoon showing two Confederate pickets standing in the wilderness on a cold Virginia night, complaining about the cold, the lack of quinine or alcohol to warm the body and boost the spirits; they conclude with... More

Heads of the democracy - Drawing. Public domain image.

Purchase; Old Print Shop; 1985; (DLC/PP-1985:492). Unprocessed in PR 13 CN 1985:492.

No more elbow room in Missouri! : Kein Ellbogen Raum mehr in Missouri

Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1866, by Peter M. Pain in the Clerk's office of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Title appears as it is written on the item. Forms p... More

Our only true medical diploma since 1871--none other genuine / Why Dr....

Public domain reproduction of political cartoon, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Up in a balloon - Political cartoon, public domain image

Public domain image of a balloon aerostat, early aeronautics, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

At the Capitol - Peace Pow-wows and presents ; On the Plains - War Who...

Cartoons about the attempts to civilize the American Indian. Illus. in: Harper's Weekly, 1877 Nov. 3, p. 872. This record contains unverified, old data from caption card. Caption card tracings: Publ. Ind.; Pres... More

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, 19th centu...

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, free to use, no copyright restrictions

[Cherub in baseball cap holding bat]

Title devised by cataloger. Gift; Mrs. Peter Grant; 1940; (DLC/PP-1940:008). Forms part of: Cabinet of American illustration (Library of Congress). Published in: Life magazine.

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, 19th centu...

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, free to use, no copyright restrictions

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, 19th centu...

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, free to use, no copyright restrictions

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, 19th centu...

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, free to use, no copyright restrictions

Caricature, The innocents / F. Opper., public domain cartoon image

Print shows a group of African American men, one, standing at center, is wearing a hat labeled "Judge Whitewashed", and the others are wearing hats labeled "Whitewasher No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, No. 6,... More

Puck's pyrotechnics - Fourth-of-July fireworks free to all / Opper & C...

Print shows a fireworks display with Puck bowing on a stage in front of a "Fan Light" featuring the likenesses of William H. Vanderbilt, Russell Sage, Cyrus W. Field, and Jay Gould; on stage with Puck is a hand... More

How to keep a girl / J.K. & F.O.

Print shows a vignette cartoon with 12 vignettes, around a central figure, that show how the employer should treat her woman domestic, if she wants to keep her, such as 1) "Promise her anything and everything",... More

Puck magazine cover - Anything for popularity! / J. Keppler.

Print shows James G. Blaine slipping off a cask labeled "Whiskey"; under his arm is tucked a paper that states "Distribution of Surplus - Jim Blaine". Caption: Our star diplomat par excellence, in his great wh... More

Caricature, The rivals in Ohio / Gillam., public domain cartoon image

Illustration shows Allen G. Thurman on one side of a man labeled "Liquor Interest" and John Sherman on the other side; Thurman represents "The Ohio Democracy is the liquor dealers old friend!!", while Sherman e... More

Blundering again! / Gillam., Washington, D.C., Political Cartoon

Print shows a group of Democrats on a log raft that is breaking up within sight of land, with two logs labeled "New Jersey [and] New York" coming loose and drifting away; there is a small sail labeled "Democra[... More

Stalwart stupidity / F. Graetz., Political Cartoon

Illustration shows Puck, holding his lithographic pen, and the Independent Party figure, holding an axe labeled "November Election", standing inside a cabin next to the head of Roscoe Conkling that has been cut... More

Duty, dedicated to the London police

Six vignettes satirizing the London policeman's overzealous sense of duty. The police arrest a card player, a man walking his dog, a child playing with a top and an intoxicated man, but ignore criminals, murde... More

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, 19th centu...

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, free to use, no copyright restrictions

"Stop thief!" / Gillam. - Political cartoon, public domain image

Illustration, reminiscent of Thomas Nast's cartoon of the same title published in Harper's Weekly, October 7, 1871, hence "That trick is very stale", shows a group of monopolists and Blaine supporters scatterin... More

A chilly Christmas for the outcast orphans / Gillam.

Illustration shows Benjamin F. Butler and Belva Lockwood as orphans wearing tattered clothing and standing in the snow outside a store labeled "G. Cleveland Holiday Goods" where a variety of foods are on displa... More

Puck magazine cover - Our rampageous preachers / F. Graetz.

Illustration shows a preacher in the pulpit haranguing his congregation with a speech that begins "Noise or Nothing!"; there are two police officers, with large billy-clubs, in the pulpit with him, they exchang... More

Gorilla warfare under the protection of the American flag / F. Opper.

Illustration shows Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa swinging like a gorilla from an American flag and dropping dynamite bombs on England. Illus. from Puck, v. 15, no. 367, (1884 March 19), cover. Copyright 1884 by Kep... More

Caricature, A preliminary set-to / Gillam., public domain cartoon imag...

Illustration shows James G. Blaine badly bruised after boxing a round against the "Ohio Secretary of State" who is slumped against the ropes; William W. Phelps and Whitelaw Reid attempt to revive Blaine with a ... More

Theodore Roosevelt - Bottom's dream, Political Cartoon

Illustration shows Puck's stereotypical Irishman labeled "Democracy" in the role of "Bottom" from Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream", with Puck holding the head of an ass above him. He is holding a paper t... More

Helping the rascals in - a burglarious scheme that may be suddenly spo...

Illustration shows James G. Blaine wearing a top hat with three plumes, a sack labeled "For the Plunder" hanging from his neck, and a paper tied at his waist that states "20 Years on the Make", attempting to br... More

"Me and Jack" / Gillam after a popular print.

Illustration shows James G. Blaine wearing shorts, sitting on a board extending over a pond with John A. Logan, as a dog, sitting next to him; a can labeled "Pro-Slavery" is tied to the dog's tail and there is ... More

Puck magazine cover - "Love's labor's lost" / Gillam.

Illustration shows heavily tattooed James G. Blaine sitting on a stool while Whitelaw Reid, using a brush labeled "Tribune Excuses" and a "Explanation Pumice Stone", and William W. Phelps, using "Vindication Sa... More

Delilah Randall betrays the democratic Samson / Gillam.

Illustration shows Samuel J. "Delilah" Randall sitting in a chair labeled "Protection", holding scissors labeled "41 Democrats" in one hand and hair labeled "Tariff Reform Bill" in the other, his feet are resti... More

Puck's notion of the kind of fancy-dress charity ball that would be a ...

Illustration shows a costume ball with a band of newspaper editors labeled "Herald, Sun, Staats-Zeitung, World, Times, [and] Evening Post" conducted by Puck; among those present are James G. Blaine, Whitelaw Re... More

The four Rips; or, twenty years behind the age / Gillam.

Illustration shows Uncle Sam seated at a table in front of "Uncle Sam's Inter-State Market" with a businessman labeled "Northern Capital" on the right and an agricultural producer labeled "Southern Goods - Cott... More

A hard job with the hogs / Gillam.

Illustration shows President Cleveland as a pig farmer getting tangled in leashes attached to the hind legs of several hogs, each with a distinctive brand, labeled "Hugh McLaughlin, H.O. Thompson, Higgins, Beat... More

Caricature, Another "boycott" / F. Opper., public domain cartoon image

Illustration shows David B. Hill holding a large brush and George H. Sterling holding a bucket of paste, as bill stickers posting a notice that states "Notice. We Hereby Boycott Cleveland, the Civil Service Hum... More

"Change about" - the monkey the master / Gillam.

Illustration shows a monkey turning the crank on an organ labeled "Home Sweet Home Rule" with one foot, it is wearing a hat with a feather labeled "Parnell", and holding a shillelagh labeled "80 members" in one... More

Caricature, "Next!" / Gillam., public domain cartoon image

Illustration shows a view inside a "Prison Barber-Shop" with two men labeled "Budensiek" and "J.D. Fish", wearing prison stripes and "Close Crop" haircuts by the prison barber, who is holding a shaving mug labe... More

Tough on Turkey / Gillam. - Public domain engraving

Illustration shows the British lion and the Russian Bear threatening a turkey dressed as a Turk. Caption: England and Russia, together "Be my ally, or I'll give you the worst thrashing you ever had in your li... More

Puck magazine cover - False weather-prophets / F. Opper.

Illustration shows Whitelaw Reid on the roof top of a building, looking through a telescope at the sun labeled "Civil Service Reform", and Charles A. Dana on the neighboring roof top checking a "Sun Barometer";... More

Echoes from Governor Hill's message / J.A. Wales.

Illustration shows a large parrot, David B. Hill, perched on a stand next to President Cleveland's desk, filling the air with it's cry "A Public Office is a Public Trust", repeating a statement once made by Cle... More

No'm, I habn't seed your chicken pie, but dat dog Ponto hab ben lookin...

Title on verso. (DLC/PP-1933:0118). Forms part of: Cabinet of American illustration (Library of Congress). Published as comic in: Harper's bazaar, 20:864 (Dec. 10, 1887).

Médaillés et souvenirs de l'Exposition, Political Cartoon

A man, possibly a souvenir salesman at an exposition, wears a slightly large sweater and a derby and sits on a bench, with his hands folded. In one arm, he cradles a long pole with crossbars at the top, from w... More

[Battle scene at Bunker Hill] - Drawing. Public domain image.

In the heat of battle, the Colonial volunteers fight the British Redcoats from atop Bunker Hill. One of the colonists waves an American flag, while others dressed in civilian clothes overcome the British foe w... More

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, 19th centu...

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, free to use, no copyright restrictions

Puck magazine cover - A senatorial desperado / Dalrymple.

Print shows a silver miner labeled "Stewart" strangling Uncle Sam who is holding a walking stick labeled "Public Opinion", near the entrance to the "Stewart, Jones & Co. Silver Miners (Unlimited)"; he threatens... More

The fake operator and his dupe / Keppler, Jr.

Print shows Whitelaw Reid, editor of the New York Tribune newspaper, typing headlines that appear on ticker tape that is being read by a stalwart Republican; the headlines include: "The Country on the Brink of ... More

Puck's suggestion to the congress of religions / F. Opper.

Print shows Puck handing out placards with the saying "Do unto others whatsoever thou wilt that others shall do unto thee", which he claims as the "best religion in existence", to many members of the clergy as ... More

Union of all nations / Th. Nast, 1893.

Patriotic drawing commemorating the Naval Review held in New York Harbor in connection with the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893. The drawing shows a young woman holding a paper labeled "Th... More

"The independents fought nobly!" / J.S. Pughe.

Print shows David B. Hill draped over a cannon and Charles A. Dana with many New York politicians, identified as "Croker, Grant, Hinckley, Sheehan, Gilroy, Murphy, McLaughlin, Smyth, [and] Divver", and the Tamm... More

The "peanut" Hagenbeck and his "senatorial courtesy" animal show / C.J...

Print shows David B. Hill as the animal trainer Carl "Hagenbeck" performing a circus act with trained animals labeled "Murphy, Pugh, Chandler, Peffer, Morgan, Coke, Higgins, Stewart, Teller, Cullom, [and] Hoar"... More

Puck's presidential impossibility. The political peanut vender / J.S. ...

Print shows a peddler labeled "D.B. Hill" selling "Fresh Roasted (Political) Peanuts", standing outside the gates to the White House, where a sign has been posted that states "Notice! No Peddlers or Suspicious ... More

"Come in, boys, warm up, and have a little Christmas cheer!" / C.J. Ta...

Print shows Columbia welcoming a group of ragged politicians, mostly Democrats, some no longer in office, and newspaper editors, to come in from the cold winter night and warm themselves by the fire and enjoy s... More