Original cartoon.

1975. Thatcher handbags Heath and Wilson The original artwork of Franklin's cartoon, which featured in The Sun on 6 October 1975, presented by the artist to Margaret Thatcher, inscribed at foot "Best wishes Stanley Franklin", and since acquired directly from her estate. Published in the week leading up to the 1975 Conservative Party conference, Thatcher's first as Conservative leader, the cartoon depicts Thatcher, in high heels with legs on display, swiping with her famous handbag, knocking the teeth out of her predecessor Ted Heath, who wears a sailing outfit, and breaking the trademark pipe of Harold Wilson, then prime minister and leader of the Labour Party. In the background she is cheered by female fans, while at her feet children share a milk bottle, presumably a nod to her famous withdrawal of free school milk. She stands on various cans of baked beans and dried milk, possibly referring to her comments the previous year that she stockpiled tinned food, leading to a controversy over hoarding. At the time of publication, The Sun was a Labour supporting paper, switching to supporting Thatcher and the Conservatives in 1978, support which remained crucial to her throughout her remaining career. Even if not entirely adulatory, the cartoon still presents a feminine Thatcher shaking up the political system, with strong female support. Stanley Franklin (1930-2004) was a political cartoonist whose career at the Daily Mirror and then The Sun lasted almost four decades. "The Sun gave Franklin access to an enormous audience, reaching sales of 4 million, and a readership two or three times larger. His work was undoubtedly seen by more people than any other cartoonist of his generation" (Stanley Franklin, biography on British Cartoon Archive, accessible online). Ink with white paint and dotted translucent paper for shadowing, 347 x 246 mm, mounted to original board, stamped by the Sun "received" and "used" 6 October 1975. Black frame with conservation acrylic glazing. Framed size: 442 x 332 mm. Slight age toning. In very good condition.