Frank Reynolds, The Encumbrance

Frank Reynolds (1876-1953) was born in Hammersmith. He drew for Punch from 1906 and later succeeded F. H. Townsend as its art editor. He also worked for The Sketch and The Illustrated London News, and illustrated editions of Dickens.

‘The Encumbrance’ follows a batsman who finds his bat more trouble than it is worth. In seven vignettes he leaves balls outside off stump, ducks the fast bowler, lets the swervers go by and pads away the googlies. Then comes a plain half-volley. He has to use the bat at last, and is out. The final scene, captioned ‘Curse the thing!’, shows him trudging off.

Colour-printed illustration, signed in the plate ‘Frank Reynolds’ lower right, with a letterpress title and captions. Probably taken from an illustrated periodical of the early twentieth century. Window-mounted with a black inner border in a gilt metal frame.