Original pen and ink drawing for Railway Ribaldry by William Heath Robinson. Page entitled ‘WHEN COAL WAS CHEAP. (VIGNETTE)’ (written lower right). Pen and ink on artists board with rough pencil workings visible. On the back is a label with type written ‘G.W.R.’ and handwritten ‘7” deep’. This label covers an earlier stamp reading ‘RETURN TO/ A E JOHNSON/ ARTISTS’ AGENT/ (?)2 KING ST. COVENT GDN. W. C.2/ LONDON’ and signed ‘W Heath Robinson’. Also handwritten on the back ‘1275 GWR’. One image of the page shows a locomotive pulling a long train of empty carriages but for one barrel. With a single figure looking on. Commissioned by Great Western Railway, 1935.

H381mm x W176mm.