Puck — December 26, 1877 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Puck Magazine, December 26, 1877 **"Puck Thanks His Friends"** This cartoon depicts Puck (the magazine's mascot character) as a cherub sitting amid a pile of gifts, wearing a top hat. The caption reads: "But are not these presents just a little too inexpressible?" The satire appears to target the excesses of gift-giving or holiday materialism of the era. Several labeled boxes surround Puck, though the specific text on individual gifts is difficult to read clearly in this reproduction. The phrase "inexpressible" likely suggests the gifts are so numerous, extravagant, or absurd that they're beyond adequate description—mocking either the generosity of wealthy patrons or the commercialization of the holiday season. This is a year-end issue, making it a topical seasonal commentary.