The advantages of travel, or, "A little learning is a dangerous thing." plate 1 / etched by G. Ck.

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George Cruikshank
1792-1878
The advantages of travel, or, "A little learning is a dangerous thing." plate 1 / etched by G. Ck.
hand colored etching
image: 250 x 343 mm; sheet: 272 x 366 mm
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan, 1900.
Peel 1997
Published: 
London : G Humphrey 24 St James's Street, 1824.
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Notes: 

Lettered with title, artist's name and publication line "I/- etched by G. Ck/ London Pubd June 14th 1824 by G Humphrey 24 St James's Street."
One of a numbered pair on the subject of travel and foreign cuisine, with the same signatures and imprint.
Library's copy trimmed within plate mark.

Summary: 

Two Frenchmen, raffish and cockneyfied, face each other in a cobbled Paris street. Their conversation is below the title: Comment se porte mon amie? [sic]--Moi--I am jost come from de England--Aha, you vas jost come from de England! Den how you like de Bif?--Le Bif roté is charmant à Londres! Yase dat is vrai--bote je prefare le Rum-Tek!--Le Rum-Tek! vat is de Rum Tek?--Voyez vous--it is toujours de Bif Tek--Mais--bote--dau--call it Rum tek--ba--cause day pote de Rum in de Sauce. The last speaker demonstrates with an exotic gesture; the other gapes at him clasping a huge umbrella, the ferrule erect. A shaved poodle scampers off. The ground-floors of two adjacent shops form a background. In the doorway of one an elegant waiter leans negligently, watching the colloquy with a quizzical smile. The window is filled with fruit, &c., and notices: Ici on Parle L'Anglois, Welch Rabbit, Biftek, Ponche à la Romaine, Dejeuné à la Fourchette, Diner a la Carte. A little ragged boy gazes in. Above: Jargon. Restaurateur. Billard. Above this are crossed billiard-cues with three balls. On the adjacent wall (right) are placards: Diner ... 50 Sous ... Pain a discretion; Dejeuné 10 Sous. The adjacent establishment (right) is more modest: in the window are bottles and long loaves; a pane is cracked. Above: C Grenouille--Traiteur--Ici on donne à boire et à manger a tout prix. A man and woman (?English) walk past this window; they turn to stare with amusement at two men. On the wall are municipal signs A.G. (left) and P.A.C.I. (right). Cf. BM Satires.

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