Humorosities by an Australian Soldier
London, Australian Trading and Agencies Co., [1916].
Large quarto, [36] pages with 28 illustrations by Hartt (the centrespread, 2 half-page and 25 full-page cartoons) and period advertisements (one includes a Hartt illustration); an advertisement for signed copies of the cartoons is printed on the inside front cover.
Pictorial wrappers lightly marked and creased; acidic paper discoloured as ever; a few bottom corners slightly rounded off; centrespread neatly detached from one of the staples; a near-fine copy, and scarce in this condition.
The book is reputed to have sold over 60,000 copies. As a member of the 18th Battalion Cecil Hartt (1884-1930) saw 'much service in the Gallipoli Campaign' where he was severely wounded at Hill 60, Suvla Bay on 27 August 1915. He was invalided to London, and during his convalescence there he continued the cartoon work that he had been contributing to 'The Bulletin' before the war. Only two illustrations in the book are dated (1916), and the bank advertisement on the last page gives its balances to June 1916, making this the more likely date of publication. In 1919 Hartt became the first cartoonist for 'Smith's Weekly', where he perfected his image of the 'Digger' in hundreds of cartoons. At the age of 45, he committed suicide. Dornbusch 243; Fielding and O'Neill, page 247.
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