Spectre of Tappington

A skeleton has put on various pieces of a uniform, including trousers, hat, and cape, and is looking at itself in a mirror, apparently quite pleased with what it sees. In the background, the dumbfounded owner of the clothes rises in his bed.

The original version of this illustration published in Bentley’s Miscellany vol. 1 (1837), bears two inscriptions: “Dalton del.” bottom left and “Buss sculp.” bottom right. It has been suggested that the name Dalton might refer to Richard Harris Dalton Barham; in any case this inscription informs us that R. W. Buss wasn’t the sole, or even the main initiator of this artwork.