Honore Daumier (1808-1879), vlà un petit pochard!, lithograph, 1842, plate 42 from the series Moeurs Conjugales, published in Le Charivari, and the Album Moeurs Conjugales (1839-42). Reference: Daumier Register 665, second state (of 3), in good condition apart from a short (repaired) tear upper edge well away from image, slight browning, 11 1/4 x 8, the sheet 13 1/2 x 10 inches.

A good impression, sur blanc (on firm white wove paper without the letterpress verso).

Translation from the Daumier Register:

Original Text:
En vlà un petit pochard! il vous avale ça comme du lait! pauvre chou…. c’est tout le portrait de son père!

Translation:
Regular little drunk, he is!… He gulps it down like milk! Poor little darling… he is the spitting image of his father!

Honore Daumier (1808-1879), ILS REVIENNENT DE PLUMER LES CANARDS, 1846, lithograph, Reference: Daumier Register 1185, second state (of 2), plate 97 from the series LES BEAUX JOURS DE LA VIE, published in an album of that name (1843-6) and in Le Charivari.  In generally good condition, some fox marks, a repaired tear upper left corner not near matrix, hinged along the left edge. 11 1/4 x 9, the sheet 13 1/4 x 10 inches. 

A good impression of this evocative composition; two rather well dressed older men apparently satisfied that they have taken advantage of someone. A sur blanc impression, on wove paper.

Here’s the translation, from the Daumier Register:

Original Text:
ILS REVIENNENT DE PLUMER LES CANARDS.

Translation:
THEY HAVE JUST PLUCKED SOMEONE [they have just fleeced some suckers]

$120

Honore Daumier (1808-1879), Poids et Mesures, lithograph, plate 8 from the series ACTUALITÉS, published in La Caricature, 2e série, nr. 5 in 1840. Reference: Daumier Register 791, second state (of 4), before the number 8 was added. In good condition, hinged along the left margin, 11 1/2 x 8 1/2, the sheet 13 1/4 x 9 5/8 inches.

A very good impression.

The indispensable Daumier Register explains the background of this print: “The law of July 4, 1837 brought the introduction of the metric system to France from January 1840 on. As early as 1790, the Academy of Science was asked to develop such a system. The meter became the new unity for the measuring of distances. Only in 1960, a convention for measures and distances was agreed upon on an international basis.”

Here’s the translation, also from the Register:

Original Text:
POIDS ET MESURES.
Dites moi donc! Mme. Gavin, en v’la des inventions! j’vas m’acheter une robe, et on me parle étranger; ils me baragouinent des Mêtres, des Thermomètres, des Baromètres!… a-t-on vu ça. – Et moi donc, la fruitière au lieu de quatre onces de beurre, elle m’emberlificote avec des Grammes! des Filagrammes et des Programmes!….

Translation:
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
- Unheard of, Madame Gavin! What are all these inventions? I buy myself a dress and they talk to me of meters, thermometers, barometers….. Can you imagine!
- And look at me, the grocer instead of 4 ounces of butter suddenly mumbles about grams, Filigrams and Programs!

$225

Honore Daumier (1808-1879),Mon Cher Ami, lithograph, 1838, plate 4 from the series CROQUIS D’EXPRESSIONS . Reference: Daumier Register 469, second state (of 2).  Published in Le Charivari in 1838; in the publication Musée pour Rire in 1839-40. In generally satisfactory condition, with binding holes along upper edge.

A relatively weak but still satisfactory impression, sur blanc on cream wove paper. We considered the possibility that this is from the Musée pour Rire publication of 150 caricatures, but unlike the reprints from that publication this impression has the title of the series at the top, and the printing at the bottom matches that of those published in Le Charivari.

Here is the translation from the Daumier Register:

Original Text:
Mon cher ami, je vous présente Monsieur *** une de nos célébrités artistiques……. – Monsieur, j’ai bien l’honneur……………

Translation:
- My dear, let me introduce you to Monsieur *** one of our artistic celebrities…
- Monsieur, I have the great honour!

$110

Honore Daumier (1808-1879), L’OEIL DU MAÎTRE, lithograph, 1842, published in Le Charivari in 1842. Reference: Daumier Register 681, second state (of 3). From the series Moeurs Conjugales, plate 58. In good condition (remains of prior hinging verso), a sur blanc impression, on sturdy wove paper without the letterpress verso, 11 x 8, 13 1/2 x 10 1/4 inches.

A very good impression of this curious subject.

The indispensible  Daumier Register notes that “The comedy “L’Oeil de Verre” (The glass eye) was written by M. Léon and first shown in the Vaudeville Theatre on September 15, 1840.”

Here is the translation of the text from the Daumier Register:

Original Text:
L’OEIL DU MAÎTRE.
- Bichette! en voilà un scélérat qui a fait des victimes! mais nous sommes bien sage à présent….
- Chacun son tour Mr. Picquet, chacun son tour.

Translation:
THE MASTER’S EYE.
- Darling! Just look at this scoundrel who had his share of conquests! but now we have calmed down…
- Each in his turn, Mr. Picquet, each in his turn.

$200

Honore Daumier (1808-1879), Eh. Eh? petit gredin, lithograph, 1840, published in Le Charivari in 1840. Reference: Daumier Register 649, third state (of 4). From the series Moeurs Conjugales, plate 26. A sur blanc impression. In generally satisfactory condition, with two repaired tears right edge, nick lower left, slight toning, remains of prior hinging verso. 11 x 8, the sheet 13 3/8 10 1/4 inches.

A good impression of this comical scene.

Translation from the Daumier Register:

Original Text:
Eh. Eh? petit gredin, vous en ferez aussi des moutards, vous avez déja des yeux de scélérat. Vous serez comme votre père.

Translation:
Ho, Ho! You little bugger, …. you behave already like a little brat, and you already have the eyes of a little scoundrel… you’ll be just like your father!

$125

Honore Daumier (1808-1879), Une Partie de Campagne, lithograph, 1842, plate 59 from the series Moeurs Conjugales, published in Le Charivari in 1842, and in the album of the series in 1843. Reference: Daumier Register 682, second state (of 2). A sur blanc impression on wove paper (as published in the album for collectors, without the newsprint verso). In very good condition, 11 1/2 x 9, the sheet 13 1/4 x 10 1/2 inches.

A fine impression, with the blacks rich, contrasting well with the greys and white.

Here is the translation from the Daumier Register:

Original Text:
UNE PARTIE DE CAMPAGNE.
- Monsieur n’a pas voulu attendre son neveu: alors Madame a trouvé que le temps menaçait, mais ça n’a rien fait.
-Quel vieux grigou!
- Oh! mère Poirier, il paiera ça plus cher qu’au marché.
- Et qu’elle fera fichtre bien par exemple!

Translation:
COUNTRY AMUSEMENT.
- Monsieur did not want to wait for his nephew; and Madame thought it might soon start raining, but he didn’t really bother.
- What an old miser!
- Don’t you worry, Mother Poirier, he’ll pay dearly for that… more than the market price!
- And right she is isn’t she!

$250

Honore Daumier (1808-1879), Panic of the Lilliputians, lithograph, 1851, plate 158 from the series ACTUALITÉS, as published in LE CHARIVARI.  Reference: Daumier Register 2120, second state (of 2), with letters (an impression before letters is very rare; the Daumier Register lists only one); a sur blanc impression (without the letterpress verso, on a strong wove paper).  In good condition apart from a repair bottom left corner (possible replacement of corner or repaired tear) not affecting image;   10 x 10 7/8, the sheet 10 1/4 x 13 inches.

A very good impression.

Translation from the Daumier Register:

Original Text:
Une panique de Lilliputiens qui ont essayé de garotter le Suffrage universel pendant son sommeil.

Translation:
Panic of the Lilliputians who had tried to suffocate universal suffrage in its sleep.

$225

Honore Daumier (1808-1879), I Would Have Bet On It [a Child at the Theatre], lithograph, 1841, Plate 34 from Moeurs Conjugales, published in LA CARICATURE (Deuxième Publication), then published in Le Charivari.  Reference: Daumier Register, third state (of 4), a sur blanc impression. In very good condition, 11 x 9, the sheet 13 1/2 x 10 1/8 inches.

A fine impression of this vivid composition, with marked contrast among the charcoal blacks and greys. The sur blanc impressions were issued in limited numbers for collectors, on a stiff  wove paper with no newsprint verso.

The translation, from the Daumier Register:

Original Text:
- Je l’aurais parié…. au lieu de lui faire voir Séraphin, tu l’emmènes au drame……c’est déja mauvais pour les grandes personnes : pauvre chou !….
- Ne vous effrayez pas, Madame, c’est ainsi que s’amusent les enfants !

Translation:
- I would have bet on it… instead of taking him to see Séraphin you take him to a drama…. it’s bad enough for adults already, poor little thing!…
- Don’t worry Madame, this is the way children are enjoying themselves.

$225

Daumier - Affairs of the Orient

Honore Daumier (1808-1879), Je vous disais tout à l’heure que je ne serais pas fâché que l’affaire d’Orient s’arrangeât. Lithograph, 1853, published in Le Charivari in 1853. A newsprint impression, with the lettering from Le Charivari verso. Reference: Daumier Register, second state (of three), before the changes made for publication in LE CHARIVARI BELGE. Plate number 28 from the series ACTUALITÉS.

In general Daumier was opposed to France’s using military force against its neighbors. The Daumier Register points out that in Daumier’s prints Mars is the personification of war threats. In this print, on the eve of the Crimean War (1854-6), his characters talk of the impending conflict, one saying that after he drank Mars beer he found himself hoping for war.

The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French, British, and Ottoman Empires, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the  declining Ottoman Empire.

Translation from the Daumier Register: Original Text:
- Je vous disais tout à l’heure que je ne serais pas fâché que l’affaire d’Orient s’arrangeât.
- Oui, et bien?
- Eh bien c’est drôle, mais depuis que j’ai bu cette bière de Mars je désirerais que nous eussions la guerre.

Translation:
- I was saying to you not long ago that I would not be angered if the affairs of the Orient would arrange themselves.
- Yes, and?
- It’s strange, but after I drank this March beer (note: Mars beer) I was hoping for war.

$125