The Wasp — 1877 — page 186: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a title page from *The San Francisco Illustrated Wasp* (October 20, 1877), priced at 10 cents. The page features a formal portrait labeled "THE LATE HARRY MEIGGS." The inclusion of "late" (meaning deceased) suggests this is a commemorative or obituary-style issue. Harry Meiggs was a prominent San Francisco businessman and railroad developer of the era. Without additional text on this particular page, the satirical angle is unclear—whether *The Wasp* is celebrating, mourning, or critiquing Meiggs is not evident from the image alone. The formal, respectful engraving style is atypical for a satirical publication, which might itself be part of the satire, though the specific joke or political point remains uncertain.