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  • Category = Humour
  • WONDERFUL COPY OF THIS HILARIOUS WORK IN FULL STRAIGHT GRAIN MOROCCO
    The English Dance of Death. by COMBE, William. ROWLANDSON, Thomas (Illustrator).
    COMBE, William. ROWLANDSON, Thomas (Illustrator).
    The English Dance of Death.

    London: Ackermann, 1815. 2 volume set, 9 3/4 inches tall. A wonderful copy in full straight grain morocco by Lloyd, Wallis and Lloyd. This tall set has gilt raised bands, superb gilt tooling to the panels, triple gilt fillets framing the straight grain boards, gilt dentelles and all edges. With 72 hilarious colour aquatint plates and a further 2 frontispieces and one engraved title page. The concept of the Dance of Death or Danse Macabre was a powerful medieval theme showing the all conquering power of death. Holbein, in the 16th century, immortalised the idea with his exceedingly grim series of allegorical woodblock prints. In stark contrast to such Germanic horrors Rowlandson and Combe create an hilarious series of…

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    London: Ackermann, 1815. 2 volume set, 9 3/4 inches tall. A wonderful copy in full straight grain morocco by Lloyd, Wallis and Lloyd. This tall set has gilt raised bands, superb gilt tooling to the panels, triple gilt fillets framing the straight grain boards, gilt dentelles and all edges. With 72 hilarious colour aquatint plates and a further 2 frontispieces and one engraved title page. The concept of the Dance of Death or Danse Macabre was a powerful medieval theme showing the all conquering power of death. Holbein, in the 16th century, immortalised the idea with his exceedingly grim series of allegorical woodblock prints. In stark contrast to such Germanic horrors Rowlandson and Combe create an hilarious series of brilliant comic representations of death getting involved with every aspect of English Regency high jinks.

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    View basket More details Price: £3,500.00
  • SUPERB 3 VOLUME SET, FIRST EDITIONS, IN FULL MOROCCO WITH ROYAL PROVENANCE
    The Comic History of England (bound uniformly with) The Comic History of Rome. by A'BECKETT, Gilbert Abbot
    A'BECKETT, Gilbert Abbot
    The Comic History of England (bound uniformly with) The Comic History of Rome.

    London: The Punch Office, 1847-1848. Bradbury and Evans. 3 volumes, 9 inches tall. A wonderful set of the first editions of these great comic works. Bound by Bradstreet in the finest full crushed morocco with raised bands and gilt dentelles. From the Duke of Gloucester's library at Kensington Palace, each volume with his bookplate. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester was the third son of King George V, brother of King George VI and King Edward VIII. Original wrappers bound in. With a total of 30 hand coloured engravings and over 300 woodcuts by John Leech.

    View basket More details Price: £2,500.00
  • SUPERB FIRST EDITION IN FULL CALF BY ROOT
    Finish to the Adventures of Tom, Jerry, and Logic, in their pursuits through London. by EGAN, Pierce. CRUIKSHANK, Robert (Illustrated by the pencil of).
    EGAN, Pierce. CRUIKSHANK, Robert (Illustrated by the pencil of).
    Finish to the Adventures of Tom, Jerry, and Logic, in their pursuits through London.

    London: G. Virtue, 1830. Full calf, 9.5 inches tall. A pristine copy in glorious full calf by Root with gilt raised bands, triple labels and wonderful gilt centre tools indicative of our heroes dissolute adventures in London, playing cards, Champagne bottles and dancers. The boards are framed within gilt corner tools and triple fillets. Gilt dentelles and all edges. Embellished with all 36 hand coloured aquatints from designs by Robert Cruikshank.

    View basket More details Price: £2,500.00
  • HILARIOUS COLOUR PLATE WORK IN FABULOUS FULL MOROCCO
    Life in Paris; Comprising the Rambles, Sprees, and Amours, of Dick Wildfire, of Corinthian celebrity, and his bang-up companions, Squire Jenkins and Captain O'Shuffleton.... by CAREY, David
    CAREY, David
    Life in Paris; Comprising the Rambles, Sprees, and Amours, of Dick Wildfire, of Corinthian celebrity, and his bang-up companions, Squire Jenkins and Captain O'Shuffleton....

    London: John Fairburn, 1822. Full morocco, 9 inches tall. A fabulous full morocco by Wood with gilt raised bands, superb gilt tooling to the panels and boards representing the gambling and fighting to be found in the text. Fine gilt dentelles and top edge. The armorial bookplate of Charles Tuller Garland and a pictorial bookplate. Embellished with 21 hand comic coloured aquatints by George Cruikshank. Some finger marks but still a super copy of the rollicking adventures of a band of young gentlemen enjoying life in Paris.

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  • MAGNIFICENT COPY IN FINE FULL MOROCCO
    Naples and the Campagna Felice: In a series of Letters. by ROWLANDSON Thomas; ENGELBACH Lewis
    ROWLANDSON Thomas; ENGELBACH Lewis
    Naples and the Campagna Felice: In a series of Letters.

    London: Ackermann, 1815. Full morocco, 9 1/2 inches tall. A magnificent copy in full navy blue morocco for Sawyer with gilt raised bands, very fine gilt tooled panels and top edge gilt. Triple gilt fillet framing the boards. With 2 maps, 1 folding and 17 superb hand coloured aquatints by Thomas Rowlandson.

    View basket More details Price: £1,950.00
  • COMIC COLOUR PLATES IN STUNNING FULL MOROCCO
    Life in London; Or, The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn, Esq. and his Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom...... by EGAN, Pierce
    EGAN, Pierce
    Life in London; Or, The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn, Esq. and his Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom......

    London: Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, 1821. Full morocco, 9 inches tall. A fabulous full morocco by Wood with gilt raised bands, superb gilt tooling to the panels and boards representing the gambling and fighting to be found in the text. Fine gilt dentelles and top edge. The armorial bookplate of Charles Tuller Garland and a pictorial bookplate. Embellished with 36 comic hand-coloured aquatints by George Cruikshank and 3 folding pages of songs. With 8 pages of adverts bound in. Some finger marks but still a super copy of the rollicking adventures of three young gentlemen enjoying life in the Metropolis.

    View basket More details Price: £1,850.00
  • FINE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION IN A GLORIOUS FULL MOROCCO BINDING
    Life in London: Or, the Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn, Esq. and His Elegant Friend, Corinthian Tom, Accompanied by Bob Logic, The Oxonian, in their Rambles and Sprees Through the Metropolis. by EGAN, Pierce
    EGAN, Pierce
    Life in London: Or, the Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn, Esq. and His Elegant Friend, Corinthian Tom, Accompanied by Bob Logic, The Oxonian, in their Rambles and Sprees Through the Metropolis.

    London: Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, 1821. Full morocco, 9.5 inches tall. A glorious later full morocco binding by Riviere in pristine condition. With gilt raised bands, ornate floral gilt tooling to the panels, triple gilt fillet framing the boards, wide gilt dentelles and all edges gilt. With 36 hand coloured aquatints by I.R. and George Cruikshank and 3 folding pages of songs. Some offsetting from the plates. The images illustrate the hilarious and bawdy adventures of Jerry and his companions in London. A superb volume.

    View basket More details Price: £1,800.00
  • GLORIOUS RARE LIMITED EDITION
    The Book Lover's Almanac. by HENRIOT (Henri Maigrot) Illustrated by.
    HENRIOT (Henri Maigrot) Illustrated by.
    The Book Lover's Almanac.

    New York: Duprat & Co. 1893, 1894 & 1895. The first 3 volumes of this very rare limited edition, 7" tall. Beautifully bound by Canape in half red morocco with gilt raised bands, ornate tooling to the panels around a calf onlay. Gilt top edges. With the bookplates of Pierre Munier and I. Fernandez. With an ink inscription from the publisher on the first blank. Number 416 of 600 copies on handmade paper. The first volume has delightful coloured comic illustrations of various aspects of the book trade facing each month. The second and third volumes have fine monochrome plates. Copies of these volumes are exceedingly scarce and, especially in pristine condition and in fine bindings.

    View basket More details Price: £1,800.00
  • COMPLETE SET OF THIS RARE TITLE IN FINE HALF MOROCCO BINDING
    The Book Lover's Almanac. by HENRIOT (MAIGROT, Henri) Illustrated by.
    HENRIOT (MAIGROT, Henri) Illustrated by.
    The Book Lover's Almanac.

    Published by New York: Duprat & Co. 1893 - 97. 5 volume set, 7 inches tall. A superb complete set of this wonderful and very scarce title in a half crushed morocco binding of the period with gilt raised bands and ornate floral gilt tooling with red calf onlays to the panels. Limited to a total of 600 copies Beautifully illustrated throughout, volume I by Henriot, volume II by Robida, the remaining volumes are more serious in tone. Volume V contains an original watercolour.

    View basket More details Price: £1,800.00
  • SUPERB TALL COPY IN FULL CALF BY RIVIERE
    The Dance of Life by COMBE, William. ROWLANDSON, Thomas (illustrated by)
    COMBE, William. ROWLANDSON, Thomas (illustrated by)
    The Dance of Life

    London: R. Ackerman, 1817. Full calf, 10 inches tall. A superb full calf by Riviere with gilt raised bands, label and dense floral gilt tooling to the panels. A triple gilt fillet and corner tools frame the boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. Armorial Bookplate of Marcus Brown-Westhead of Lea Castle. Decorated with hand coloured aquatint frontispiece, vignette on the title page and a further 24 full page plates throughout, all by Thomas Rowlandson.

    View basket More details Price: £1,650.00
  • SUPERB FIRST EDITION IN FULL MOROCCO BY RIVIERE
    Finish to the Adventures of Tom, Jerry, and Logic, in their pursuits through London. by EGAN, Pierce. CRUIKSHANK, Robert (Illustrated by the pencil of).
    EGAN, Pierce. CRUIKSHANK, Robert (Illustrated by the pencil of).
    Finish to the Adventures of Tom, Jerry, and Logic, in their pursuits through London.

    London: G. Virtue, 1830. Full morocco, 9 1/2 inches tall. A pristine copy in glorious full morocco by Riviere with gilt raised bands and wonderful gilt centre tools indicative of our heroes dissolute adventures in London, playing cards, Champagne bottles and dancers. The boards are framed within gilt corner tools and triple fillets. Gilt dentelles and top edge. Embellished with all 36 hand coloured aquatints from designs by Robert Cruikshank. This is a magnificent copy of this hilarious work from the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey.

    View basket More details Price: £1,650.00
  • SUPERB COMIC PLATES IN EXTRAORDINARY FULL CALF
    The Tour of Doctor Syntax in Search of the Picturesque; The Second Tour of Doctor Syntax, in Search of Consolation; The Third Tour of Doctor Syntax, In Search of a Wife. by COMBE, William. ROWLANDSON, Thomas (illustrator).
    COMBE, William. ROWLANDSON, Thomas (illustrator).
    The Tour of Doctor Syntax in Search of the Picturesque; The Second Tour of Doctor Syntax, in Search of Consolation; The Third Tour of Doctor Syntax, In Search of a Wife.

    London: Ackerman, c. 1825. 3 volume set, 9 3/4 inches tall. A superb and extraordinary full mottled calf, c. 1830, with large gilt tooled label on a smooth back, gilt bands and an ornate 'starburst' of gilt tooling to the spine. The boards have a delicate floral roll framing the almost cat's paw smattering of gray and brown mottling. Blind dentelles and all edges gilt. Decorated with 80 splendid hand-coloured aquatints by the great humorous illustrator Thomas Rowlandson. All three volumes declare themselves to be 3rd editions but to confuse matters the first volume also states that it is the 9th edition on the engraved title page. A succession of editions came out shortly after the first and the…

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    London: Ackerman, c. 1825. 3 volume set, 9 3/4 inches tall. A superb and extraordinary full mottled calf, c. 1830, with large gilt tooled label on a smooth back, gilt bands and an ornate 'starburst' of gilt tooling to the spine. The boards have a delicate floral roll framing the almost cat's paw smattering of gray and brown mottling. Blind dentelles and all edges gilt. Decorated with 80 splendid hand-coloured aquatints by the great humorous illustrator Thomas Rowlandson. All three volumes declare themselves to be 3rd editions but to confuse matters the first volume also states that it is the 9th edition on the engraved title page. A succession of editions came out shortly after the first and the plates in this set are all dated the same as the first. Having been used for so many 'strikes' the images are more flat and less clearly defined than in the 1st editions. There is some staining and browning to some plates particularly in the third volume. But still a lovely complete set in a super binding.

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    View basket More details Price: £1,500.00
  • TALL COPIES IN WONDERFUL FULL MOROCCO BY C. LEWIS
    One Hundred Fables, Original and Selected. (Together with) Fables, Original and Selected. Second series. by NORTHCOTE, James
    NORTHCOTE, James
    One Hundred Fables, Original and Selected. (Together with) Fables, Original and Selected. Second series.

    London: Geo: Lawford, 1828 & 1833. 2 volume set, 10 inches tall. A wonderful full morocco binding by C(harles) Lewis with raised bands, very fine tooling to the panels, dentelles and all edges gilt. Exceptionally tall copies with vignettes and decorated initials throughout. James Northcote, as well as being a celebrated Fabulist was a fine artist.

    View basket More details Price: £1,450.00
  • HILARIOUS SYNTAX SPINOFF IN SUPERB MOTTLED FULL CALF
    Doctor Syntax in Paris or A Tour in Search of the Grotesque. by COMBE, William (?). WILLIAMS, Charles (illustrated by).
    COMBE, William (?). WILLIAMS, Charles (illustrated by).
    Doctor Syntax in Paris or A Tour in Search of the Grotesque.

    London: W. Wright, 1820. Full Calf, 9 1/2 inches tall. A superb full mottled calf by Riviere with gilt raised bands, twin labels and fine gilt floral tooling to the panels. A gilt roll and twin gilt fillets frame the boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. Embellished with 17 full page hand coloured aquatints and a splendid illustrated title page by Charles Williams. A Lovely copy of this hilarious Doctor Syntax spinoff.

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  • EARLY SYNTAX IMITATION IN FINE HALF MOROCCO
    Dr. Comicus or the Frolicks of Fortune. A Comic Satirical Poem for the Squeamish & the Queer. by COMBE, William (after).
    COMBE, William (after).
    Dr. Comicus or the Frolicks of Fortune. A Comic Satirical Poem for the Squeamish & the Queer.

    London: Blake, (1815). Half morocco, 8 3/4 inches tall. A fine later half crushed morocco with raised bands, gilt lettering and all edges. This is a scarce early work in imitation of William Combe and his splendid Dr. Syntax comic poems. The first edition with hand-coloured aquatint frontispiece, additional title and 13 further hand-coloured aquatints. A little creasing and offsetting but a very nice copy of the first of many imitations of William Combe and Thomas Rowlandson's hilarious hero, according to Tooley. The 1820 reprint has only 12 plates.

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  • GREAT COMIC WORK IN PRISTINE FULL CALF BY BAYNTUN
    The Tour of Doctor Syntax in Search of the Picturesque; The Second Tour of Doctor Syntax, in Search of Consolation; The Third Tour of Doctor Syntax in Search of a Wife. by COMBE, William. ROWLANDSON, Thomas (illustrated by).
    COMBE, William. ROWLANDSON, Thomas (illustrated by).
    The Tour of Doctor Syntax in Search of the Picturesque; The Second Tour of Doctor Syntax, in Search of Consolation; The Third Tour of Doctor Syntax in Search of a Wife.

    London: Ackermann, 1823. 3 volume set, 5 1/2 inches tall. The exquisite miniature edition of 1823 bound in later full calf by Bayntun with gilt raised bands, twin labels, fine gilt tooling to the panels, twin gilt fillets framing the boards, dentelles and all edges gilt. Illustrated with 80 hand-coloured plates by Thomas Rowlandson, including two pictorial title pages, as called for. Brilliant comic satirical verse matched by Rowlandson's equally comic hand coloured aquatints.

    View basket More details Price: £1,200.00
  • 27 HAND-COLOURED AQUATINTS IN HANDSOME HALF MOROCCO
    The Life of an Actor. by EGAN, Pierce
    EGAN, Pierce
    The Life of an Actor.

    London: C.S. Arnold, 1825. Half morocco, 10 inches tall. A fine tall copy of this hilarious volume highlighting the perils of a thespian life. Bound in a later half crushed morocco with gilt raised bands, very fine gilt tooling to the panels and gilt top edge. First Edition. With vignettes and 27 hand-coloured aquatints by Theodore Lane. Slight rubbing and one plate creased but overall a splendid copy of this scarce title. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey.

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  • 36 HAND COLOURED COMIC PLATES IN SUPERB TREE CALF
    Life in London: Or, the Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn, Esq. and His Elegant Friend, Corinthian Tom, Accompanied by Bob Logic, The Oxonian, in their Rambles and Sprees Through the Metropolis by EGAN, Pierce
    EGAN, Pierce
    Life in London: Or, the Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn, Esq. and His Elegant Friend, Corinthian Tom, Accompanied by Bob Logic, The Oxonian, in their Rambles and Sprees Through the Metropolis

    London: Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, 1822. Full morocco, 9.5 inches tall. A splendid treecalf which has been expertly repaired (by Bayntuns of Bath) with the original spine relaid. With gilt raised bands, twin labels and very fine gilt tooling to the panels. Gilt dentelles and top edge. With 36 hand coloured aquatints by I.R. and George Cruikshank and folding pages of songs. Some offsetting from the plates. The images illustrate the hilarious and bawdy adventures of Jerry and his companions in London.

    View basket More details Price: £900.00
  • CLASSIC COMIC POEM WITH 12 HAND COLOURED AQUATINTS IN FULL MOROCCO
    Hudibras. by BUTLER, Samuel
    BUTLER, Samuel
    Hudibras.

    London: Akerman (sic) et al., 1822. 2 volume set, 8.5 inches tall. Superb later crushed morocco by Bayntun with gilt raised bands, gilt panels, framed boards, dentelles and all edges. With 12 hand coloured aquatints. A pristine copy of this great mock heroic Civil War poem through the story of Sir Hudibras and his comic adventures.

    View basket More details Price: £850.00
  • LIMITED EDITION IN FABULOUS FULL MOROCCO BY ZAEHNSDORF
    Phil May's ABC: Fifty-Two Original Designs Forming Two Humorous Alphabets from A to Z. by MAY, Phil
    MAY, Phil
    Phil May's ABC: Fifty-Two Original Designs Forming Two Humorous Alphabets from A to Z.

    The Leadenhall Press Limited, 1897. Full morocco, 11 inches tall. A fabulous full morocco by Zaehnsdorf with gilt raised bands, and very fine gilt tooling to the panels and boards. Finely gilt tooled dentelles and all edges. Silk endpapers. Though the binding is still firm there are cracks running the length of the spine on both boards. Limited to 1050 copies of which this is number 362.

    View basket More details Price: £850.00