Dear List,
I was recently lucky enough to acquire, from an Australian book dealer,
a copy of Cornish Pasty (1950), a book of cartoons by Oswald Pryor.
This contains about 60 of Pryor's cartoons, based on his experience at
Moonta Mine, south Australia, with his distinctive 'Cousin Jack' humour.
I noticed however that several Pryor cartoons that I was already
familiar with are missing from this volume.
I know Pryor wrote several books including Australia's Little Cornwall
(a folk history of Moonta), Who's Who In Adelaide South Australia
1921-22 and Cousin Jacks and Jennys (1966) but can find out very little
about the latter two and whether they are cartoon collections or not.
Can anyone tell me if Pryor's cartoons are available in any other
published collections or any info about the above volumes? I'd be very
grateful to hear. A trawl of the www didn't turn up much of use except
the following for those interested:
http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110314b.htm
One of my favourite examples, which is not present in Cornish Pasty is
the three-fingered, one-legged Cousin Jack, complete with a peg-leg
and a crutch apparently inquiring about a job at the mine and
addressing the manager: "Gunpowder Cap'n! Baint a man alive with more
experience".
All the best
Phil Newman
Phil Newman
Archaeological Survey & Investigation Team (Exeter)
English Heritage
5 Marlborough Court, Manaton Close
Matford
Exeter, EX2 8PF
Tel: 01392 824901
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