Mr. Punch in the Arts: A Postcard of Mr. Punch and his Horse

Postcard
Late Nineteenth Century
George Speaight Collection
The Victoria and Albert Museum

This late Nineteenth Century postcard by an unknown artist is another item from the comprehensive collection of Punch & Judy ephemera amassed by George Speaight over his lifetime and now in possession of the V&A.


Here, we see Mr. Punch astride his horse (who is curiously not called Hector—see today's “Friday Fun”-- two posts down). The horse is referred to as “Dobbin.” Perhaps Mr. Punch had some sort of relationship with Endora early in his life, and has named this particular horse after the ginger witch’s nickname for her future son-in-law. He delcares, “Gee-up, Dobbin; soon we’ll be in London town!”

Why Mr. Punch is traveling to London on a horse named Dobbin is beyond me since, by all accounts, he spent a great deal of time there already. Nevertheless, it’s a nifty postcard and one which I would have been pleased to have received.