Votes For Women; Official Paper of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU)
London: WPSU, 1908, 1909, 1913. Twenty-two [22] volumes of the most influential publication of the Women's Suffragette movement in Great Britain. Included in this lot are some of the most important issues of the early publication period including: [1] The 22 October 1908 issue carries “The Prisoners at Bow Street”, about the trial of the Pankhursts and Flora Drummond and the October 1908 “Rush” on the Commons. [2] Six, 6, issues from the summer of 1909 which detailed the Hunger Strike initiated by Marion Wallace Dunlop and the subsequent attempts by the government to force feed the participants. The 1913 issues include: [3] 3 January (No. 252): the paper’s New Year leader. It says women’s militant spirit and indomitable purpose “have never been stronger than at the dawn of 1913.” This was one of the first issues after the Pethick-Lawrences left the WSPU. [4] 28 March (No. 264): published days after the “Cat and Mouse” bill was introduced, and as Mrs Pankhurst’s trial was approaching. [5] 4 April (No. 265): It went to press right after Mrs Pankhurst was sentenced at the Old Bailey to three years’ penal servitude for inciting persons unknown to commit felony at the house at Walton Heath being built for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. [6] 18 April (No. 267): front-page cartoon “The Changeling” refers to the government pursuing the Pethick-Lawrences for the costs of that trial, which led to their bankruptcy that year. [7] 2 May (No. 269): front-page cartoon “Our Enlightened Cabinet,” with contents including “The Fight for Free Speech” and “A ‘Free’ Vote”. It came out a week after the Cat and Mouse Act received royal assent on 25 April 1913, and two days after the police raided WSPU headquarters on 30 April. [8] 20 June (No. 276): It’s the first issue after Emily Wilding Davison’s funeral. Her funeral on 14 June 1913 was organised by the WSPU. A procession of 5,000 suffragettes and supporters accompanied her coffin, and 50,000 people lined the route through London. The funeral was the last great suffrage march. [9] Ten, 10, issues from the 1909 lot have cover cartoons by the brilliant artist Alfred Pearse, who signed his art, "A. Patriot". At the turn of the century, Pearse, now an established artist, was also regularly published in Punch Magazine, The Illustrated London News, the Boy's Own Paper, and the The Strand. Pearse held progressive political opinions and was a member of Men's League For Women's Suffrage. A strong supporter of women's suffrage, Pearse composed a weekly cartoon for the Women Social & Political Union newspaper, Votes for Women from 18th February 1909. During WWI he later became a Captain in the New Zealand Guards and created heroic war scenes, often printed on postcards. Condition of individual volumes range from VG to G with expected edge wear and chips on some issues, light tears and age fade on some issues. Complete list of issues available upon request. Item #3444
“We are here not because we are law-breakers; we are here in our efforts to become law-makers.” - Emmeline Pankhurst.
Price: $1,750.00