Snapshots of the Past

Merely a comet--Good heavens! another bomb?"" – Antique Wall Art

Merely a comet--Good heavens! another bomb?"", 1910 — historic print
Merely a comet--Good heavens! another bomb?"", 1910. Historic print from the Historic Print Archive collection.

(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)

Description

A window into the past: Merely a comet--Good heavens! another bomb?"", preserved in this historic print. Sourced directly from the Library of Congress, it represents an authentic piece of documented history.

The framed print arrives ready to hang; the unframed option suits custom framing. It makes a striking addition to a living room, study or office, and a thoughtful gift. Free shipping in the lower 48 states. Snapshots of the Past, founded in 2001, has served tens of thousands of customers worldwide.

Merely a comet--Good heavens! another bomb?""

Order a print

Secure checkout · SSL encryptedPowered by Stripe and PayPal

Free shipping in the lower 48 states. The checkout page shows the picture, size and price before you pay.

Sign up for our newsletter

Sent securely. No purchase needed. Unsubscribe anytime.

Ask about licensing or this print

Halley's comet, which returned in 1910, is the subject of this cartoon, but the joke is aimed at Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. The caption has him dismiss the comet as "merely a comet" and then ask whether it is "another bomb." Richard Rost drew the cartoon, and it ran in the Literary Digest in March 1910, weeks before the comet reached its brightest in May. The humor rests on the emperor's well-known fear of assassins and revolutionary bombings during a period of unrest in Russia.

Created / published1910
Medium1 photomechanical print : halftone.
GenrePolitical cartoons 1910.Periodical illustrations 1910.Halftone photomechanical prints 1910.
NotesIllus. in: Literary digest, v. 40, 1910 Mar. 19, p. 536. Reproduction of drawing by Richard Rost. Freitag, no. 2599.
SubjectsNicholas--II,--Emperor of Russia,--1868-1918. Comets--1910. Halley's comet--1910.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan1,195 × 1,536 px · prints to 4 × 5 in at 300 dpi
ReferenceAMZ-SOTP-HPA-161285

More from the Historic Print Archive collection

Snapshots of the Past helps heritage brands, museums, historians and storytellers tell stories with history: historic prints, image licensing and historical storytelling drawn from more than 25 years of research and curation.

Related pictures

Halley's Comet in 1835, and other comets seen during the last century and thisHalley's Comet in 1835, and other comets seen during the last century and thisEllis Island: Shipping emigrants - another methodEllis Island: Shipping emigrants - another methodFor he's a jolly good fellow so say we all of us""For he's a jolly good fellow so say we all of us""The first strawberries by air, Wauchula Air Port, Wauchula, Fla.The first strawberries by air, Wauchula Air Port, Wauchula, Fla.[Notable comets of the period 1577-1652][Notable comets of the period 1577-1652]Democracy against the unnatural union. Trial Octr. 14th 1817.Democracy against the unnatural union. Trial Octr. 14th 1817.