{"title":"The Frederick Burr Opper Collection","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"puck-cover-4","title":"The State Convention- Puck Magazine","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis vibrant Puck magazine cover by Frederick Opper captures the irreverent spirit of Gilded Age political satire at its finest. The chromolithograph depicts Tammany Hall's delegation careening toward the Syracuse state convention, a chaotic tangle of ward bosses, political hacks, and hangers-on tumbling from an overloaded wagon. The caption quotes the New York Times with delicious irony, as Opper transforms a routine political announcement into visual commentary on machine politics run amok.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePuck magazine, America's first successful humor publication, wielded its color printing technology as a weapon against political corruption. Published by Keppler \u0026amp; Schwarzmann from their Warren Street offices near City Hall, the magazine had an insider's view of Tammany machinations. This cover exemplifies Puck's signature approach: sophisticated color lithography paired with biting wit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA compelling piece of American political history, this cover documents the reform era's battle against boss politics while showcasing the golden age of American illustration. The exaggerated caricatures and dynamic composition demonstrate why Opper became one of the period's most influential cartoonists.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 13.25\" x 10.0\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e Frederick Burr Opper\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very Good\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Authentic Vintage Posters","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44625844797555,"sku":"CA7161","price":55.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0088\/3005\/8556\/files\/edited_c0287e6a-3cc7-437e-853f-2075b2b61eab.jpg?v=1775240800"},{"product_id":"puck-illustration-28","title":"Ten Minutes for Divorce- Puck Magazine","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis riotous chromolithograph by Frederick Burr Opper captures the frenetic energy of Gilded Age America with biting wit. Published in Puck magazine during its golden era, the illustration imagines a Chicago railroad depot where travelers can obtain divorces as easily as sandwiches at the lunch counter. The scene brims with dozens of characters, from mustachioed businessmen clutching papers marked 'CAUSE' and 'EVIDENCE' to women with children reaching for 'ABSOLUTE DIVORCE' decrees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOpper, who would later create the beloved comic strip Happy Hooligan, demonstrates his mastery of crowded satirical compositions. Every corner rewards close inspection: signs proclaim 'SANDWICHES AND DIVORCES CAN'T BE BEAT!', a harried court official distributes decrees from a basket, and eager petitioners wave their paperwork like commuters flagging a train. The chromolithography by Mayer, Merkel \u0026amp; Ottmann showcases the rich color printing that made Puck's centerfolds famous.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis piece offers a window into late 19th century anxieties about changing social mores, particularly regarding marriage and divorce. Chicago's relatively lenient divorce laws made it a target for Eastern moralists, and Opper's satire, proposing ultimate efficiency through railroad divorce courts, captures the era's tension between tradition and modernity. A standout piece for collectors of American satirical art and Gilded Age social history.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10.25\" x 13.5\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e Frederick Burr Opper\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very Good\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Authentic Vintage Posters","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44632098373747,"sku":"IL7205","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0088\/3005\/8556\/files\/edited_ebd07753-f597-48bb-8447-fc180727e4c7.jpg?v=1775247790"},{"product_id":"puck-illustration-34","title":"Unemployed Thespians- Puck Magazine","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis delightful chromolithograph from Puck magazine captures Frederick Burr Opper at his satirical best, imagining a chaotic summer resort dining room staffed entirely by out-of-work actors still wearing their stage costumes. A knight in armor struggles with stacked plates, a jester in motley serves beer, and an Elizabethan queen presides over the mayhem while bewildered diners look on. The subtitle's tongue-in-cheek suggestion that this arrangement \"would boom business and give them a square meal once in a while\" perfectly encapsulates the era's gentle mockery of theatrical pretension.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOpper, who would later achieve lasting fame as the creator of the Happy Hooligan comic strip, demonstrates his masterful command of caricature and crowd composition. Every corner rewards close examination, from the sign banning \"parties with lunch baskets\" to the patrons' expressions of bemused acceptance. Mayer, Merkel \u0026amp; Ottmann's chromolithographic printing captures the subtle color gradations that made Puck's illustrations famous.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA charming window into Gilded Age American humor, this print appeals to collectors of theatrical ephemera, American illustration, and anyone who appreciates visual wit rendered with consummate draftsmanship.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9.5\" x 12.0\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e Frederick Burr Opper\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very Good\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Authentic Vintage Posters","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44632198086771,"sku":"IL7208","price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0088\/3005\/8556\/files\/edited_59d90618-7225-4a59-ad18-9edb131957dc.jpg?v=1775248143"},{"product_id":"puck-illustration-38","title":"Athletic Girl \u0026 The Millionaire- Puck Magazine","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis delightful chromolithograph from Puck magazine captures the social anxieties of the mid-1890s with wit and visual sophistication. Frederick Burr Opper, one of America's most influential cartoonists, presents a six-panel narrative skewering both the athletic 'New Woman' and the gold-digging dynamics of Gilded Age courtship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe athletic girl tries everything: mountain climbing, diving, cycling, canoeing, and fencing, each pursuit rendered with Opper's characteristic energy and humor. Yet the elderly millionaire remains unmoved, ultimately proposing to a demure young woman who 'did nothing athletic at all.' The satire cuts both ways, mocking both female ambition and male preference for passive femininity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA standout piece for collectors of American illustration, women's history, or cycling ephemera, this print embodies the cultural tensions of an era when bicycles and bloomers were reshaping gender expectations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10.0\" x 13.25\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e Frederick Burr Opper\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very Good\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Authentic Vintage Posters","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44632231313523,"sku":"IL7209","price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0088\/3005\/8556\/files\/edited_1e9c6d4c-f1f9-4679-a6de-833b38f2673d.jpg?v=1775248239"},{"product_id":"puck-illustration-40","title":"The Indian Question- Puck Magazine","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis original chromolithograph from Puck magazine captures a satirical, if deeply troubling, moment in American history. Created by Frederick Burr Opper, one of Puck's most accomplished cartoonists, the illustration proposes sending the Salvation Army to 'frighten' Native Americans 'into submission' if the Regular Army cannot 'handle the hostiles.' The cartoon reflects the racist attitudes prevalent in Gilded Age America during the final years of the Indian Wars.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOpper's skilled draftsmanship brings the chaotic scene to life: Native American figures flee in exaggerated terror from the advancing Salvation Army band, complete with drums, tambourines, and a banner reading '3rd Regiment Salvation Shouters.' The warm earth tones and energetic composition demonstrate the technical excellence of J. Ottmann's chromolithographic printing, which made Puck's illustrations famous.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a primary source document, this piece offers invaluable insight into how mainstream American media portrayed both Native Americans and religious movements in the early 1890s. A significant acquisition for collectors of American political art, Western Americana, or those studying the visual culture of the Gilded Age.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10.0\" x 13.25\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e Frederick Burr Opper\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very Good\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Authentic Vintage Posters","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44632272732275,"sku":"IL7210","price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0088\/3005\/8556\/files\/edited_696c0d45-da36-41b4-bfb5-45c0e2ddae34.jpg?v=1775248336"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.authenticvintageposters.com\/collections\/the-frederick-burr-opper-collection.oembed","provider":"Authentic Vintage Posters","version":"1.0","type":"link"}