Stop thief! Stop thief!

’Stop thief! Stop thief!’

Randolph Caldecott

circa. 1916

Postcard; a photo-mechanical reproduction of a coloured wood engraving by Edmund Evans

5 x 3 ¼ inches

This is a reproduction of one of Caldecott’s illustrations for John Gilpin. The highwayman is shown galloping away into the background, pursued by two riders. Caldecott accentuates the drama by using a deep recession; the pointing gestures and open mouths add noise and urgency, and the excitement of the moment is contrasted with the prosaic detail of a labourer digging up stones (no. B2).

  • Caldecott's Postcards
  • Scanned image and text by Simon Cooke. [Click on image to enlarge it, and mouse over the text for links.]

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