The Wasp — 1876 — page 210: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is the cover/title page of *The Wasp*, a San Francisco satirical magazine published December 23rd, 1876. The ornate title treatment features caricatured figures and a wasp, typical of Victorian-era comic typography. The lower cartoon depicts what appears to be a New Year's Eve or holiday scene with multiple figures in a celebratory gathering. A well-dressed gentleman (possibly representing a wealthy or political figure) makes a toast or proclamation to assembled revelers. The text bubble suggests sentiment about fellowship and goodwill "that make a man a man, and not a mere political machine." The specific political targets are unclear without additional context, though the satire likely comments on San Francisco civic life or California politics of 1876. The "HERE HE IS, THERE HE IS" caption suggests mockery of a particular public figure's prominence or notoriety.