The Wasp — 1888 — page 486: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a Christmas greeting illustration from *The Wasp*, San Francisco's satirical weekly, dated December 22, 1888. The central figure is a cherub or putto (classical winged child) carrying holly and mistletoe, flying above San Francisco's harbor and cityscape. The cherub holds a banner reading "Wasp's Merry Xmas 1888." The illustration appears to be a seasonal greeting rather than political satire—a decorative cover or holiday message from the magazine to its readers. The harbor scene below shows ships and the city's hills, establishing the local San Francisco context. The classical cherub imagery was a conventional choice for Victorian-era Christmas imagery, blending festive tradition with the publication's satirical identity.