The Wasp — 1876 — page 132: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a title page for *The Wasp*, a San Francisco satirical magazine published November 11, 1876. The elaborate decorative header features wasps and mythological figures surrounding the title. The lower illustration depicts two figures at what appears to be a government building (likely San Francisco City Hall, given the dome). The male figure holds a broom or shovel, while a woman in classical dress stands nearby. Text references "SWINDLER TO HAYES" and "SWINDLER TO TILDEN," likely alluding to the contested 1876 presidential election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden. The "ALL OVER AT LAST" caption suggests political resolution or exhaustion after the contentious election dispute. The satire appears commentary on political corruption and the election's resolution.