Three original caricature studies by Phil May c1890-1900

MAY, Phil (1864-1903). Three Original Caricature Studies on Blotting Card, c.1890-1900.
 
Three original sheets of pencil, ink and wash caricature studies on thick brown blotting card. One larger card, 175 x 195mm, bearing three figure studies; two smaller cards, each 105 x 195mm, one with a single full-length figure and the other with two principal figures together with further lightly sketched studies, signed by the artist. Some minor surface marking and handling wear, with remnants of former mounting to the reverses where the cards have previously been affixed. Overall very good.
 
A group of working studies by Phil May (1864-1903), one of the leading British caricaturists and humorous illustrators of the late nineteenth century. May worked for numerous illustrated periodicals and became particularly celebrated for an extraordinarily economical style of draughtsmanship, reducing figures and expressions to a few assured lines. His work appeared extensively in Punch and in his own illustrated annuals and collections, and he is regarded as an important figure in the development of modern British cartooning.
 
The present sheets appear to be preliminary or informal character studies, with some figures in pencil while others have been developed more fully in ink and wash. The unusual thick blotting-card support is characteristic of other surviving groups of May's working sketches; comparable sheets of sketches on blotting paper are recorded in the specialist trade.