Not so much a Punch, more a light tap ...

I have received the gentlest and most generous of raps over the knuckles from Punch Ltd, for using their copyright cartoons as illustrations for my blog. Because they feel that my blog is a good advertisement for Punch, they are waiving their usual fee on this occasion, and allowing me to leave the cartoons in place, with the addition of an acknowledgment that I am doing so with their permission. This of course I have been only too happy to do. I think I must have imagined that the copyright belonged with the original artists, most if not all of whom I assumed to have long passed. I must be more careful.

I was also told that Punch the magazine is 'not dead yet', as they are bringing out a bumper book of Punch cartoons called The Best of Punch Cartoons, published by Prion Books, which will appear in September. This link will take you to WH Smith, where you can pre-order it, or Amazon will record a request to be notified when it is published. Be aware, however, that with 600 pages of incomparable Punch cartoons, it is going to cost you £35.00!

I have made my own illustration for this post - a rather dark photograph of an antique cast iron doorstop of Punch with his dog Toby, which holds my study door open. It has been painted, (thereby reducing its antique value I believe), but seems to have led quite a hard life subsequently, judging by the spots that have been knocked off him! Mr Punch appears to be holding a banana, although I believe it actually represents a quill pen; and I wouldn't be sure that he isn't picking his nose! However, I can forgive him that, for all the pleasure he has brought me over the years.

[The magazine Punch was launched in 1841, and was finally laid to rest in 2002. If you want to find out more about it, there is an excellent website here.]