Here's a few hints or clues: the picture is on a postcard, intended to be sent through the mail. Below the caption "Made several purchases" is a fairly large blank space where it was expected the sender would add some remarks themselves, whether or not relevant to the illustration and/or the supplied caption.
Of the two male caricatures, the guy on the left symbolized a country bumpkin, and the guy on the right was supposed to be a city slicker. The locality of the transaction is in the city, since we can discern tall buildings in the background.
I figured the cat on the left was a gold miner coming to the city to sell his gold. Fat dude in the black top hat is the shyster we buy gold buyer / dealer.
At first I was certain he was the one ready to rip off the seller as most dealers do however after @rte592's comment about hand in pocket makes you wonder if he is about to pull a pistol, or perhaps he just likes to play pocket pool.
@Smudge said:
New blood here, but could the slicker be Diamond Jim Brady? The bling, girth and period match.
Welcome aboard here at the forums! The cartoon artist might very well have had 'Diamond Jim' in mind, great suggestion, although not the solution to the original question.
Isn't it just a comic postcard? In 1905, that amount of gold would be able to buy a ton of merchandise. The caption, "Made several purchases" is just a play on words for someone from the country that took a trip to a big city and spent a lot of money. The sender of the card is supposed to write after the statement about what they wasted so much money on during their big spending spree in the city. A 400 ounce gold bar was a lot of money back then.
Any more guesses before I provide my own interpretation? Of course we can't enter into the mindset of the cartoonist from 113 years ago, although I think it's pretty obvious what was intended.
@Smudge said:
Brick painted gold? Other than that I'll cry uncle.
Yes, thanks, definitely correct, that's one part of the scenario (but still missing the big picture). I fully agree the apparent gold brick is undoubtedly fake, totally worthless, meaning the buyer is being swindled. Even just the term 'gold brick' is an idiom for worthless, an idiom very popular around 1905.
Here's my interpretation. Both of these cartoon characters were supposed to be typical cheating charlatans, the guy on the left with a satchel the phony country farmer, pretending to be naive, and on the right a fancy-dressed supposedly wealthy, suave, sophisticated and knowledgable urbanite. Both are out to swindle you.
The cartoonist has deliberately made it completely ambiguous as to which one might be buying, and which one selling, it was intentionally indeterminate, could be going either way, there's no telling.
But the real victim is supposedly the postcard sender, sending the card to make it a joke on himself or herself, self-deprecatory humor, for the amusement of the recipient.
No messages were allowed on the address side of picture postcards in the U.S. until March 1907. In 1905, if you wished to pen a note, it had to go on the picture side, and space was allotted for doing so. The sender could therefore add a few words to the three already provided, not necessarily relevant to the drawing, although a pertinent remark might have added to the hilarity, just use your imagination.
botanist
Posts: 524 ✭✭✭
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Beats me, no idea !!!
I like those pants!
I have no idea....must be a political cartoon.... Cheers, RickO
The guy on the right is the buyer. Guy on the left is selling for a shave, clothes and a new hat.
Here's a few hints or clues: the picture is on a postcard, intended to be sent through the mail. Below the caption "Made several purchases" is a fairly large blank space where it was expected the sender would add some remarks themselves, whether or not relevant to the illustration and/or the supplied caption.
Of the two male caricatures, the guy on the left symbolized a country bumpkin, and the guy on the right was supposed to be a city slicker. The locality of the transaction is in the city, since we can discern tall buildings in the background.
The guy on the left with his Hand in is pocket is holding a pocket pistol.
He's the buyer OR getting ready to ROB the city slicker.
I figured the cat on the left was a gold miner coming to the city to sell his gold. Fat dude in the black top hat is the shyster we buy gold buyer / dealer.
At first I was certain he was the one ready to rip off the seller as most dealers do however after @rte592's comment about hand in pocket makes you wonder if he is about to pull a pistol, or perhaps he just likes to play pocket pool.
The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
Let's step this up a little
The guy on the right is the buyer, the seller with a CCW on the left has another 2 bricks in the sellers bag.
The buyer answered a for sale ad on the Aumish Craigslist and in the next frame he was shot after he tried to steal the first bar.
The buyers female acompless leaves the scene shortly after in a stolen car.
New blood here, but could the slicker be Diamond Jim Brady? The bling, girth and period match.
Welcome aboard here at the forums! The cartoon artist might very well have had 'Diamond Jim' in mind, great suggestion, although not the solution to the original question.
Carpet bagger on left. Southern gentleman on right. Carpet bagger is receiving the gold. Savannah Georgia?
I first thought the guy on the left was a tired and worn out "Uncle Sam".....giving more of its gold away. LOL.
Is this picture a Rorschach test, or what??
Here's a warning parable for coin collectors...
don't that beet awl
A few cute replies, but nobody has really figured it out yet.
The guy on the left is a con-man, snake oil salesman selling the gold to the fat cat businessman.
Knowledge is the enemy of fear
Isn't it just a comic postcard? In 1905, that amount of gold would be able to buy a ton of merchandise. The caption, "Made several purchases" is just a play on words for someone from the country that took a trip to a big city and spent a lot of money. The sender of the card is supposed to write after the statement about what they wasted so much money on during their big spending spree in the city. A 400 ounce gold bar was a lot of money back then.
That's my guess at least
Swindle at the Gold Bar Mine, Nevada ??
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
Any more guesses before I provide my own interpretation? Of course we can't enter into the mindset of the cartoonist from 113 years ago, although I think it's pretty obvious what was intended.
Must be a politician 'taking his cut'
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
@botanist Sure, what is your take on this
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
Brick painted gold? Other than that I'll cry uncle.
Yes, thanks, definitely correct, that's one part of the scenario (but still missing the big picture). I fully agree the apparent gold brick is undoubtedly fake, totally worthless, meaning the buyer is being swindled. Even just the term 'gold brick' is an idiom for worthless, an idiom very popular around 1905.
Here's my interpretation. Both of these cartoon characters were supposed to be typical cheating charlatans, the guy on the left with a satchel the phony country farmer, pretending to be naive, and on the right a fancy-dressed supposedly wealthy, suave, sophisticated and knowledgable urbanite. Both are out to swindle you.
The cartoonist has deliberately made it completely ambiguous as to which one might be buying, and which one selling, it was intentionally indeterminate, could be going either way, there's no telling.
But the real victim is supposedly the postcard sender, sending the card to make it a joke on himself or herself, self-deprecatory humor, for the amusement of the recipient.
No messages were allowed on the address side of picture postcards in the U.S. until March 1907. In 1905, if you wished to pen a note, it had to go on the picture side, and space was allotted for doing so. The sender could therefore add a few words to the three already provided, not necessarily relevant to the drawing, although a pertinent remark might have added to the hilarity, just use your imagination.
The Guy on the left side is the Buyer. The seller has the new Digs and a shave.
Best place to buy !
Bronze Associate member