The Qu_n’s Ass; in a band box.

Irish issue of George Humphrey’s carcicature of Caroline of Brunswick, who was Queen of the United Kingdom, wife of King George IV from 29 January 1820 until her death in 1821.

The Queen, grossly caricatured, sits on a zebra which stands in a round
band-box with a hinged and upturned lid inscribed ‘a Present from Baro
Bergami’. The zebra has the (profile) head of Wood, looking with greedy
and imbecile satisfaction towards a sieve of food inscribed ‘[Wa]rden of
St Catherine’. This is held out by two hands projecting from the left
margin. A famous zebra belonging to Queen Charlotte was known as ‘the Queen’s Ass’,

The Queen, with a grin both calculating and insane, sits full-face,
negligently holding reins attached to Wood’s mouth, her left hand on her
hip. She sits in a smaller (bottomless) band-box which surrounds her
from hips to knees, the left leg, in frilled drawers, being thrust
forward from beneath it. She wears a décolletée dress; on her head is an
erection of feathers and flowers rising from a circlet inscribed
‘Wood’. An owl flies by her head. In the background is
Brandenburgh House, in front of which is a braying ass.

Caroline of Brunswick
Caroline Amelia Elizabeth, daughter of Charles William Ferdinand, Duke
of Brunswick-Wölfenbuttel. 1795, married the future George IV (q.v.),
from whom she separated. Her daughter was Princess Charlotte Augusta of
Wales (q.v.)

Sir Matthew Wood, 1st Baronet
Politician and druggist; Lord Mayor of London 1815-1817. MP for the City
of London , 1817-43. Supporter of Queen Caroline. Created Baronet of
Hatherley House in 1837.

Bartolommeo Bergami
Queen Caroline’s chamberlain, and assumed lover, who played a prominent
role in the divorce trial of 1820. She renamed him Pergami (as being
more aristocratic), and appointed him Grand Master of the Order of St
Caroline (which she had founded).

Reference: British Museum. Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires. No. 14110