Which? Little Englander Empire Hotel 1900 General Election

Original antique general election propaganda poster featuring artwork by the British cartoonist and political satirist Tom Merry (William Mecham; 1853-1902), depicting the well-dressed gentleman in a suit and hat, John Bull as the national personification of the British public, standing with his back to the viewer above the bold title - Which? - looking at the menu choices of two restaurants with the proprietors of each standing outside, The Little Englander on the left with a caricature of the Liberal politician Henry Campbell-Bannerman (1836-1908; Prime Minister 1905-1908), and The Empire Hotel on the right with a caricature of the Conservative and Liberal Unionist politician the 3rd Marquess of Salisbury (Lord Salisbury 1830-1903; Prime Minister 1885-1886, 1886-1892, 1895-1902), representing a visual metaphor for a choice between two contrasting ideologies, embodied by two competing establishments: the Little Englander promises Liberal Fare with its menu listing negative-sounding dishes of Disintegration Soup Scuttle Fish No-Policy Pie Radical Mash Irish Stew Desert Everything Mixed Pickle and Pain ad Lib whilst The Empire Hotel promises a Splendid Constitutional Menu listing more appealing and positive options of Peace Soup Fish Union Jack Colonial Salmon with Federation Sauce Joints British Beef and Australian Mutton Entrees Loyal Hearts and Boors Heads Poultry Cape to Cairo Capon and Canadian Horn and Sweets Omdurman Omelet with a sign on the other pillar reading Wines in Imperial Measures symbolising a strong and unified British Empire as the more attractive voting choice. Also known as the Khaki Election, the 1900 United Kingdom general election was won by the Conservative and Liberal Unionist Party led by the Marquess of Salisbury. Printed and Published by McCorquodale & Co Ltd, London. Horizontal. Good condition, restored folds, restored tears, restored pinholes, staining, tape marks, backed on linen.