John Bull introducing civilization into Cyprus. Higgins German Laundry Soap is the best

Creator:

Unknown

Date:

ca. 1870–1900

Inscriptions:

Printed in upper right recto: John Bull introducing civilization into Cyprus

Description:

When England first took the island of Cyprus through the Anglo-Turkish Convention of 1878, a series of cartoons appeared in the press. The British had to justify their presence on the island and what better way than to claim their beneficial role in bringing civilization to the back of beyond, in this case, into Cyprus. The morality of the Victorians at the time dictated that being in such a foreign land would help the locals improve and learn the basic rules governing any civilized nation e.g. cleanliness, obedience, honesty etc. So, John Bull, personifying England, a stout and matter-of-fact man, is here introducing cleanliness to the Cypriots. Having just disembarked on Cyprus, he is offering to a local Greek a box of Higgins German laundry soap. Funnily enough, the soap is of American origin! He is basically appealing to making the life of the Cypriot women easier as the back of the card indicates: “When at the Congress of Berlin John Bull added the Isle Cyprus to his real estate, to please his Cypriot subjects he set to work and strove to prove a better master than the Turk. To find a gift for them he searched far and wide, and his selection brought the women on his side. ‘Tis women rule the world; their wishes men obey, if they are satisfied assured is Britain’s sway to everyone he meets, as on the Isle he lands, a cake of Higgins Laundry Soap he hands. Said they: through you the finest soap we have procured, henceforth of our allegiance you may rest assured.”

Dimensions:

8 x 11 cm

Identifier:

PNT-01002

Classification:

Paintings

Object Type:

Postcard

Rights Holder:

© Costas and Rita Severis Foundation

Rights Statement:

The Costas and Rita Severis Foundation holds or manages the copyright(s) of this item and its digital reproduction. If you need information about using this item, please send an email to research@severis.org

Give us Feedback

We're always looking to improve our records, so if you have any information about an object or recognize any of the people, locations, monuments in the photographs, please give us details in the form provided here.

Give us Feedback

We're always looking to improve our records, so if you have any information about an object or recognize any of the people, locations, monuments in the photographs, please give us details in the form provided here.