Cartoons and Caricatures of Driving in America, 1902-1909.

Puck began in 1871 as a German language cartoon, caricature, and political satire magazine. It ended its run in 1918. The artwork is remarkable and a statement of American attitudes concerning the automobile during the first full decade of its diffusion.  The illustrations are simply wonderful.

Puck, April 16, 1902.This ilustration shows a wealthy old man as a passenger in an automobile driven by his chauffeur. They are racing through the countryside during a cross-country auto race and have struck several pedestrians who are not used to encountering automobiles on country roads. 

Puck, 1903.This cartoon shows Buster Brown wildly driving a car with his dog, Tige, beside him and the Yellow Kid hanging onto the rear seat; the car hits a group of men who are tossed into the air.

Puck, 1907. This illustration shows a candlestick with flame labeled "Speed Madness" and speeding automobiles caught in the illumination with people falling out of the cars. The wreckage collects in the basin of the candlestick holder.

Puck, 1909. This illustration shows an automobile driven by a chauffeur speeding down a road, surrounded by newspaper clippings with headlines about numerous taffic accidents involving pedestrians struck by automobiles, including one where a chauffeur was charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 13-year-old boy.

Puck, 1907. Four young people are drunk.  They are riding in a speeding automobile driven by "Demon Rum".