George Cruikshank was a British caricaturist and book illustrator, praised as the "modern Hogarth" during his life. He did the book illustrations (Sketches by Boz, The Mudfog Papers, and Oliver Twist) for his friend, Charles Dickens, and many other authors.
Cruikshank edited (compiled?) "The Comic Almanacks" from 1835-48 (Horace Mayhew took over for the remaining five years). Cruikshank served as the principle illustrator for most of the annual’s nineteen years. These The Almanacks have long been regarded by admirers of Cruikshank as among his finest, most characteristic productions. Extending over a period of nineteen years, from 1835 to 1853, they embrace the best period of his artistic career, and show the varied excellences of his artistic talent.
