THE IRWIN STADIUM MAGAZINE OF CARTOONS. Humourous Drawings

by Tofani, Mario. 

Price: $575.00
Shipping rates & speeds | 30 Day Return Guarantee Ask bookseller a question | E-mail to a friend

np (India), np, nd [1945?].  ca. 1944-47, the period when the British military occupied the grounds of Irwin Stadium in New Delhi, India. Cartoon booklet. (VG). The front cover and 19 inside leaves are illustrated with colour cartoons showing various aspects of military life, some of which are pin-up style cartoons of scantily-clad women, mildly riske, all with captions.  One shows a native fruit vendor and a char wallah (hot tea and cakes) plying their trade.  Another shows a future time (1981 with Atomic Planes in the sky) when Italian P.O.W.'s are finally being repatriated to Italy.  The author/illustrator was probably a serviceman. The Royal Engineers Survey, which produced maps and allied military publications, occupied Irwin Stadium at this time and the publication of this cartoon book was no doubt done on their printing presses.  The rear cover says, in ink at the foot, "By permission of Major J. H. Bellam, C.O., Irwin Stadium."  Irwin Stadium, now the National Stadium, was where India gained its independence on August 15, 1947. Several of the cartoon soldiers have red, white and green shoulder patches, which may have been representative of Italian prisoners-of-war who were held in India after being captured by the British in the East African campaigns of World War II.  Given the author/cartoonist's evident Italian name, and other Italian suggestions in the cartoons, could this be the work of a prisoner-of-war? All the printing in the booklet is in English, including that on the final page, "All material, which in the opinion of the author involves military security, has been submitted to competent military authority for review as to security." Digest-sized (21 x 16 cm) card covers.  (44) pp.  Moderate wear.  Mild soiling of the covers.  The last leaf and rear cover are detached from the staples.  The cartoons are bright and clean.  Very good. .

Bookseller Terms of Sale

All books returnable any reason within two weeks, if not as described.