The Wasp — 1876 — page 166: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is the title page and masthead for *The Wasp*, a San Francisco satirical publication. The ornate header features insects and fantastical creatures in decorative lettering. Below are two panels labeled "CHEF'S HOUSE" and "R. HOUSE," depicting a social commentary on Thanksgiving dining. Each shows a poorly-dressed man standing before hanging game or poultry marked "72 DISHES FOR 25 CTS." The left panel is captioned "BEFORE DINNER" and the right "AFTER DINNER," suggesting a satirical contrast about the California "Dummers'" (likely traveling salesmen's) Thanksgiving meal—presumably mocking the gap between meager actual provisions and inflated menu promises, or the financial struggles of working-class San Franciscans during this period.