Talk:Osbert Lancaster

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[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:OsbertLancaster PocketCartoon.jpg

Image:OsbertLancaster PocketCartoon.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

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BetacommandBot (talk) 20:20, 2 January 2008 (UTC)

Hi Folks!! Being as I am sick and freaking tired of dealing with wankbots and their droid masters, I have instituted a policy of not doing anything in the slightest about image deletion notices. Therefore, if you want the above image to remain, I suggest you hack your way through the cruft and put in the necessary template.Djdaedalus (talk) 21:47, 2 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Did Lancaster Illustrate Parkinson's Law?

It's not clear that Lancaster illustrated a Parkinson's Law series (was it a series?). Amazon.com turns his name up on a number of C. Northcote Parkinson titles, but most of these have citation errors (such as giving the author as "Northcote"), and none offer a "Search inside" feature or a book cover image for verification. I suspect that some of them simply saw the title, looked it up on Amazon or elsewhere, and miscopied some information, resulting in Lancaster being overattributed. Parkinson's Law is still in print, but I can't find an in-print edition with Lancaster as illustrator. For now, I'm substituting a Parkinson/Lancaster title In-laws & Outlaws for "Parkinson's Law series", after finding [this book-cover image]. Note that it has the word "law" in it (twice!) which might help explain some confusion. Nevertheless, the book Parkinson's Law went through a number of editions, propably including some earlier British ones, so it's possible Lancaster illustrated some of these before the American illustrator, Robert C. Osborn, became Parkinson's main illustrative collaborator. I'd welcome any help with this problem. Yakushima (talk) 09:20, 23 April 2008 (UTC)

OK, despite SOME name resemblance ("Osbert", "Osborn") and maybe even some style resemblance, I'm forced to admit a near-certainty that Osbert Lancaster did illustrate at least one edition of Parkinson's Law. (Alternative hypothesis: the NY Times Book Review would get it wrong, when they had a choice between mentioning an illustrator far better known to Americans versus a British one not likely to be as well known.) I've added some citations for support, and added another Parkinson book he illustrated. Anyway, this has just been a drive-by shooting while on my way to writing the article for Robert C. Osborn. I hope I haven't done too much damage. ;-) Yakushima (talk) 10:41, 23 April 2008 (UTC)

Yes, he did. I just found a contemporary review in the Times Digital Archive.

All hard-worked high executives in business in the public service should make compulsory reading of Parkinson's Law (122pp, John Murray, 12s 6d). Professor C Northcote Parkinson's text and Mr Osbert Lancaster's pictures work perfectly in team to give a witty, satirical, and fundamentally serious tract for the times.

- Reviews, In Brief, The Times, Thursday, Apr 10, 1958; pg. 11; Issue 54121

According to Times review, Thursday, May 12, 1960; pg. 17; Issue 54769, he also illustrated the sequel, The Law and the Profits. Looking at Google Books, it looks as if Lancaster illustrated the John Murray British edition and Osborn the Houghton Mifflin US editions. Gordonofcartoon (talk) 19:15, 23 April 2008 (UTC)