The Queen's matrimonial ladder, a national toy, with fourteen step scenes; and illustrations in verse, with eighteen other cuts. / By the author of "The political house that Jack built." [i.e. William Hone.]
Hone uses the device of the ladder to plot a simple linear history of Caroline’s unhappy marriage. Each page of the pamphlet describes a step on the ladder and is accompanied by an illustration. The iIllustrations are by George Cruikshank.
The title-page at the bottom specifies 'This Pamphlet and the Toy together, / ONE SHILLING.' The 'toy' was a folded cardboard "ladder" as described in the text, depicting the various stages of Queen Caroline's marriage to George IV. It is missing here.
Bound within this pamphlet is a printed sheet entitled Account of the most Wonderful and Laughable Trial and Execution of a Green Bag, Near St. Steven's Bay, this Morning (see 13/2045).
References
Cohn, A.M. G. Cruikshank, 680
Provenance
Part of a set of pamphlets from the library of Richard Westmacott RA presented by Mrs Rodwell in 1937 (see RA Annual Report for 1937, p. 55).
Bound (7) in vol. IV of a set of pamphlets from the library of Richard Westmacott RA.
Binding Note
In green quarter-bound leather; spine with two red leather labels, both lettered in gilt, the first as 'Miscellaneous' and the second as 'Vol. / IV'.
Subject
Caroline Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain 1768-1821 ; Poetry - George IV, King of Great Britain 1762-1830 ; Poetry - Political satire, English - Great Britain Politics and government 1800- 1837