Tom Browne (1870 – 1910) was an extremely popular English strip cartoonist, painter and illustrator of the late Victorian and Edwardian periods.Browne started earning a wage as a milliner's errand boy in 1882. From there he was apprenticed to a lithographic printer and eked out a living with freelance cartoons for London comic papers. He received 30 shillings for his first strip, published by the magazine “Scraps,” and called "He Knew How To Do It".
Comic Cuts, a British comic book was founded by Alfred Harmsworth in 1890. Cheaply printed, it proved to be the ideal medium for Browne's bold drawing style. Browne's comic strips soon became so popular that he moved to London and into a studio in Wollaton House at Westcombe Park, London. Here he turned out six full-page strips a week, but also managed to produce illustrations for several British magazines. His cartoons appeared in the magazines Punch, The Tatler and other highly rated periodicals of the day. The logo of Johnnie Walker whiskey, the strutting, monocled character, was created by Browne in 1908.
Browne was a founding member of the London Sketch Club, was publicly acclaimed and was made a “Royal Illustrator.” His cycling trips took him all over the world, while illustrations of these exploits appeared in the newspapers. Returning to Nottingham, he started a colour printing firm and joined the Territorial Army.
He also created the comic strip Weary Willie and Tired Tim, inspired by Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, which appeared on the front page of Illustrated Chips from 1896 to 1953. Browne played a major part in the evolution of the British comic style, influencing Bruce Bairnsfather, Didley Watkins and Leo Baxendale. His strip 'Airy Alf and Bouncing Billy' first appeared in The Big Budget around 1900, and was later continued by Ralph Hodgson aka "Yorick". His comic, Dan Leno, portrayed the Victorian English music hall comedian and appeared in Dan Leno's Comic Journal in 1898. Echoes of his impudent urchins can still be seen in The Beano and The Dandy comics today.
More of his characters were 'Little Willy and Tiny Tim', 'Mr. Stankey Deadstone and Company', 'The Rajah' and 'Don Quixote de Tintogs'. Browne died after surgery for cancer at the age of 39. He was buried with military honours at Shooter’s Hill.
For more information on Browne see part 1.
For earlier works see parts 1 & 2 also.
This is part 3 of 9 parts on the works of Tom Browne:
Postcards:
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| "A thing of the past, old dear." |
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| "A thing of the past, old dear." |
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"A thing of the past, old dear."
"Are you sure you shot it?" |
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"By the Briny"
His first sea-dip. |
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"By the Briny."
"Is it quite safe "enery?" |
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"By the Briny."
Pets of the Parade |
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| "Can't you come in the proper way?" |
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"Cycling"
Married. |
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"Cycling"
The triplet come to grief. |
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"Cycling."
"Hi! Give us a light Guvnor." |
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"Cycling."
Sixpence an hour. |
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"Don't worry"
Crikey! It's a brick!! |
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"Experiences of a newly-married couple."
The cook gets cheeky. |
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"Good Old Dad"
At the zoo Pa is recognised |
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"Good Old Dad"
Hark! Your father approaches. I hear his voice." |
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"Good Old Dad"
Pa treads on a rocking chair in the dark |
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"Good Old Dad"
Pa's roof garden. The Sweep arrives. |
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"Good Old Dad"
Pa, as a Parliamentary Candidate.
"Gentlemen. I will swallow your insults." |
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| "Here's to the Captain of the School - ... |
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| "Hi! Look out mate" |
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"Hi! Where are you going to?"
"All right guvnor keep where you are" |
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"Home, sweet home."
"Come out, you coward!!" |
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"Home, sweet home."
"I've brought my friend Jones to have a bit of supper with us, my dear." |
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"Home, sweet home."
A little difference of opinion. |
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"Home, sweet home."
Pa's egg is too rich. |
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"Honey-Moon"
Voice from the bed. "Hurry up Jack, dear. You are late." |
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"Honey-Moon."
Breakfast at the hotel, first morning
"Do you take sugar Harold dear?" |
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"Honey-Moon."
Country lodgings farmer: "Rooms for an old married couple? Certainly sir." |
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"Honey-Moon."
The first night on board ship. |
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"Honey-Moon."
The waning of the honey-moon. Going home. |
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| "How happy I could be with either" |
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| "How's eggs this morning?" |
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| "Hullo - hic - brother Bill - hic - 'ow are yer?" |
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"Humours of Cricket."
Too many cooks spoil the broth. |
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"Humours of Diabolo"
The Judge's Clerk is struck with it. |
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| "I'm waiting honey, waiting long for you." |
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"Illustrated Bridge"
No trumps |
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"Illustrated Bridge"
Spades are Trumps. |
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"Illustrated sports"
Mountain climbing. |
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"Illustrated Sports."
Polo |
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"In Lodgings."
The Lodging-House slavey brings up his boots and letters. |
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"In Lodgings." His bed.
"The way of the transgressor is hard" |
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"In Lodgings."
His Landlady's pet daughter plays the "Maiden's Prayer." |
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"In Lodgings."
Moving. |
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Sketch for a postcard idea.
"There's many a slip betwixt the cup and lip" |
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| 'arry on the Margate boat |
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'Country Life'
The swing in the orchard. |
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'Country Life.'
Haymaking / The Amateurs. |
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'Country Life.'
Pulling off Master's boots. |
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May you have a match-less Christmas and your happiness never be threatened.
'H'oblige me 'wif' a light guv'nor." |
