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Sir Alfred and the Sword of divorce: will they let him use it?, 1886 / cartoon by Phil May

Sir Alfred and the Sword of divorce: will they let him use it?, 1886 / cartoon by Phil May

https://devfeature-collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/nM7lB2eY

Sir Alfred and the Sword of divorce: will they let him use it?, 1886 / cartoon by Phil May

About this item

Full title

Sir Alfred and the Sword of divorce: will they let him use it?, 1886 / cartoon by Phil May

Author / Creator

Date

1886

Call Numbers

V/207

Record Identifier

nM7lB2eY

Reference Code

884678

Formats

Physical Description

Contents

1 drawing - 42.2 x 29.8 cm - ink

Other Descriptions

Level of description

Fonds

Access and use

Copying Conditions

Out of copyright : Artist died before 1955

More information

Scope and Contents

Contents

A political cartoon depicting a struggle between a man and woman who are chained together at their waists. The chain is labelled "matrimony". A bottle sits on the table beside the couple and the man holds an axe. A figure [Sir Alfred Stephen] stands in the background with a half-drawn sword. The sheath of the sword is labelled "Divorce Extension Bill".
The cartoon refers to divorce law reform in New South Wales . In February 1886 Sir Alfred Stephen "moved the first reading of a bill extending the grounds of divorce to cover desertion, habitual drunkenness, imprisonment for at least seven years and assault on the petitioner. Carried in the next session the Divorce Extension Act was refused the royal assent. It provoked violent controversy both within and without parliament".

Reference:
Australian Dictionary of Biography Online Edition
http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/
(accessed 10 February, 2010)...

Alternative Titles

Full title

Sir Alfred and the Sword of divorce: will they let him use it?, 1886 / cartoon by Phil May

Authors, Artists and Contributors

Author / Creator

Notes

Signature / Inscriptions

Signed "Phil May" at lower right. The number "536" is written in pencil on the back and precedes the title in the typed inscription

Date note

Typed inscription on back - April 10, 1886

Description source

Title taken from typed inscription on back of cartoon

Contextual Information

Source

Presented by Jenny Burnett, 2010

Identifiers

Primary Identifiers

Call Numbers

V/207

Record Identifier

nM7lB2eY

Permalink

https://devfeature-collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/nM7lB2eY

Other Identifiers

Reference code

884678

How to access this item

01

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