{"product_id":"1916-1917-the-bystanders-fragments-from-france-trench-cartoon-humour","title":"1916-1917 The Bystander's Fragments From France - Wartime Cartoon Humour","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn very good condition, here are three World War I publications. Being the first three published Bystander's Fragments From France. One of the most culturally significant and popular comedy publications of the First World War. A phenomenon at the time - there went on to be eight in total. Being published in paper and card, and read in wartime conditions, not many have survived. Here are the first three. More details below.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eComprising: Fragments From France; More Fragments From France and Still More Bystander Fragments From France.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cartoons were drawn by Captain Bruce Bairnsfather, an engineer and officer in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Bairnsfather served on the front lines of the Western Front and survived the Second Battle of Ypres, where he suffered from severe shell shock and hearing damage. While recovering in the rear, he began sketching humorous scenes to amuse his fellow soldiers. He mailed a drawing to The Bystander on a whim. The editor immediately recognized its genius, put Bairnsfather on an exclusive contract, and began printing the cartoons weekly under the title Fragments from France. When The Bystander collected 43 of these cartoons into a single standalone magazine\/anthology in 1916 for 1 shilling, it became an overnight hit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe books were universally read across all ranks, from generals to the lowest private. Copies were deliberately hurled into enemy trenches or posted home to comfort worried families. Because of the monumental boost his work gave to national morale, Bairnsfather was playfully nicknamed \"The Man Who Won the War.\" Fascinatingly, Allied forces frequently discovered Bairnsfather’s Fragments cartoons pinned up inside captured German dugouts. The German soldiers found Old Bill's universal complaints about the misery of the trenches just as relatable as the British did.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese three copies have survived well. They each have a faint name of 'Simmonds' in the top right corner. Metal staples have gone a little rusty. Generally pages are very clean, bright and smart. More Fragments has some white paint to the back. Still More Fragments has a light stain to the bottom front, sporadic spotting and a nick to the edge of the back cover. TO NOTE - I have been through all the pages, and this volume lacks one leaf - pages 7\/8. All other pages are tightly bound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYour three volume collection will be wrapped with care and sent very well packaged.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eH 30.5 cm x W 20.5 cm, combined weight 0.55 kg.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bumper Box of Delights Bookshop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50606255472877,"sku":null,"price":87.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0351\/1068\/2669\/files\/20260901-145918.jpg?v=1788278215","url":"https:\/\/bumperboxofdelights.com\/en-de\/products\/1916-1917-the-bystanders-fragments-from-france-trench-cartoon-humour","provider":"Bumper Box of Delights Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}