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  • Category = Humour
  • 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: £3,500.00
  • 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 Coombe 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 Coombe create an hilarious series of brilliant comic representations of death getting involved with every aspect of English Regency high jinks.

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  • 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 BECKETT, Gilbert Abbot a'
    BECKETT, Gilbert Abbot a'
    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: £3,000.00
  • 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: £1,950.00
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.

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  • 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 COOMBE, William. ROWLANDSON, Thomas (illustrator).
    COOMBE, 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 COOMBE, William (?)
    COOMBE, William (?)
    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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  • 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 COOMBE, William. ROWLANDSON, Thomas (illustrated by).
    COOMBE, 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • HILARIOUS WORK IN FULL CALF BY RIVIERE
    Lessons of Thrift, Published for General Benefit By a Member of the Save-all Club. by CRAWFORD, John William Roy. CRUIKSHANK, Isaac Robert (illustrator).
    CRAWFORD, John William Roy. CRUIKSHANK, Isaac Robert (illustrator).
    Lessons of Thrift, Published for General Benefit By a Member of the Save-all Club.

    London: Thomas Boys, 1820. Full calf, 9 1/2 inches tall. An elegant full calf by Riviere with gilt raised bands, label and very fine floral gilt tooling to the panels. Gilt corner tools and triple fillets frame the boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. With an engraved title page and 12 hilarious full page hand coloured plates. With the armorial bookplate of Edmund Lacon. Rubbing, in particular to the upper joint, some scuffing and slight foxing to the preliminaries, but overall a fine copy of the first edition.
    This copy, as with all editions had pp. 39-42, 87-110 and 163-178 omitted, a footnote appears on p. xvi explaining: "The reader will perceive an hiatus after p. 38, another…

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    London: Thomas Boys, 1820. Full calf, 9 1/2 inches tall. An elegant full calf by Riviere with gilt raised bands, label and very fine floral gilt tooling to the panels. Gilt corner tools and triple fillets frame the boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. With an engraved title page and 12 hilarious full page hand coloured plates. With the armorial bookplate of Edmund Lacon. Rubbing, in particular to the upper joint, some scuffing and slight foxing to the preliminaries, but overall a fine copy of the first edition.
    This copy, as with all editions had pp. 39-42, 87-110 and 163-178 omitted, a footnote appears on p. xvi explaining: "The reader will perceive an hiatus after p. 38, another after p. 86, and a third after p. 162. Some digressions occurred in those places on subjects too abstruse to be generally interesting; they have therefore been withdrawn".

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    View basket More details Price: £850.00
  • 25 WONDERFUL PLATES IN HALF RED MOROCCO
    The Post Captain or Adventures of a True British Tar by a Naval Officer. by THORNTON, Alfred
    THORNTON, Alfred
    The Post Captain or Adventures of a True British Tar by a Naval Officer.

    London: Simpkin, Marshall et al., n.d. (1817). Half morocco, 9 1/2 inches tall. A later very smart half morocco with gilt raised bands, label and fine floral gilt tooling to the panels. All edges gilt. Complete with all 25 hand coloured aquatints by Williams. Armorial bookplate. First edition of this hilarious verse with comic images describing the rollicking adventures of life in The Royal Navy at sea and ashore two hundred years ago.

    View basket More details Price: £850.00
  • 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.

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  • GREAT COMIC POEM IN FULL RED MOROCCO
    The History of Johnny Quae Genus, the Little Foundling of the late Doctor Syntax: A Poem by the Author of the Three Tours. by COOMBE, William. ROWLANDSON, Thomas (Illustrator).
    COOMBE, William. ROWLANDSON, Thomas (Illustrator).
    The History of Johnny Quae Genus, the Little Foundling of the late Doctor Syntax: A Poem by the Author of the Three Tours.

    London: R. Ackermann, at the Repository of Arts, 1822. Full morocco, 9 1/2 inches tall. A beautiful binding by Riviere, expertly rebacked retaining the earlier boards. With gilt raised bands, fine gilt tooling to the panels. Gilt dentelles and all edges gilt. The armorial bookplate of Baron de Spon. In this great comic poem we learn of the adventures of Doctor Syntax's extraordinary son, Johnny. Thomas Rowlandson adds 24 superb hand coloured aquatints to illustrate those adventures further.

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  • FIRST EDITIONS IN SUPERB FULL CRUSHED MOROCCO
    The Ingoldsby Legends or Mirth and Marvels by Thomas Ingoldsby Esquire First Series, Second Series and Third Series. by BARHAM, Richard Harris. INGOLDSBY, Thomas. CRUIKSHANK, George & LEECH, John (illustrated by).
    BARHAM, Richard Harris. INGOLDSBY, Thomas. CRUIKSHANK, George & LEECH, John (illustrated by).
    The Ingoldsby Legends or Mirth and Marvels by Thomas Ingoldsby Esquire First Series, Second Series and Third Series.

    London: Richard Bentley, 1840, 1842 & 1847. 3 volume set, 8 inches tall. A very fine full crushed morocco by Riviere with gilt raised bands and very fine gilt tooling around a comic centre tool to the panels. The boards are framed within a triple gilt fillet. Gilt dentelles and top edges. With red and black title pages, 17 etched plates by Cruikshank and Leech and 2 engraved portraits. The original cloth covers and spines bound in. A nasty scuff on the fore corner of the 3rd series but still a super set of first editions of this fantastical work.

    View basket More details Price: £750.00
  • 24 SUPERB COMIC PLATES IN HALF CALF
    The History of Johnny Quae Genus, the Little Foundling of the late Doctor Syntax: A Poem by the Author of the Three Tours. by COOMBE, William
    COOMBE, William
    The History of Johnny Quae Genus, the Little Foundling of the late Doctor Syntax: A Poem by the Author of the Three Tours.

    London: R. Ackermann, at the Repository of Arts, 1822. Half calf, 9 1/2 inches tall. First edition. In a handsome Georgian half calf with gilt bands and fine gilt centre tooling. Pink speckled edges. In this great comic poem we learn of the adventures of Doctor Syntax's extraordinary son, Johnny. Thomas Rowlandson adds 24 superb hand coloured aquatints to illustrate those adventures further. There is a superficial stain on the spine and a previous owner's discrete stamp on the paste down endpaper and first blank. A good looking binding of the period with remarkable 'eyeball' endpapers.

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  • FIRST EDITIONS IN FINE FULL CALF BY TOUT
    The “Bab” Ballads (together with) More “Bab” Ballads. by GILBERT, W. S.
    GILBERT, W. S.
    The “Bab” Ballads (together with) More “Bab” Ballads.

    London: Routledge, 1869 & (1872). 2 volumes, 7.5 inches tall. Superb full calf bindings by Tout with triple labels and elegant gilt tooling to the panels. With gilt dentelles and all edges. Original cloth covers bound in. Slight rubbing to the joints and a stain on the top of the second title page, otherwise perfectly clean. Profusely illustrated throughout. Sir William Schwenck Gilbert, English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for the fourteen comic operas produced with the composer Arthur Sullivan.

    View basket More details Price: £550.00