Judge — September 16, 1922 — page 20: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes the anthracite coal trade, likely during a period of coal scarcity or price inflation in America. A large, disheveled figure on the left—appearing to be a coal merchant or seller—hawks "real, genuine, old Anthracite!" to a well-dressed gentleman and his companions on a city street. The ragged appearance and exaggerated features of the merchant suggest he's a con artist or profiteer. The satire likely targets merchants exploiting consumers by selling inferior coal as premium anthracite, or capitalizing on fuel shortages through inflated prices. The contrast between the merchant's shabby appearance and his polished customers underscores the class dimension of the fraud. This reflects public frustration with unscrupulous dealers during coal crises.