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  • Category = Humour
  • 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
  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • GREAT COMIC WORK IN BEAUTIFUL FULL CALF BY LUCIEN BROCA
    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; with the Whimsical Adventures of the Halibut Family; Including Sketches of a Variety of other Eccentric Characters in the French Metropolis. 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; with the Whimsical Adventures of the Halibut Family; Including Sketches of a Variety of other Eccentric Characters in the French Metropolis.

    London: John Fairburn, 1822. 9 inches tall. A beautiful later full straight grain calf by the brilliant and elusive Lucien Broca. With gilt raised bands and superb extra gilt tooling to the panels. Triple gilt fillets frame the boards. Gilt dentelles and top edge. Embellished with 21 hand comic hand-coloured aquatints by George Cruikshank and a further 22 wood engravings. An exceptionally lovely copy of the rollicking adventures of a band of young English Gentlemen enjoying life to the full in Paris in excellent condition in a binding by one of the greatest craftsmen of his generation.

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  • 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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  • 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
  • FINE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION IN A BEAUTIFUL 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 3/4 inches tall. A glorious later full morocco binding by the great firm of Bedford in pristine condition. With gilt raised bands, superb floral gilt tooling to the panels, triple gilt fillet framing the boards, wide gilt dentelles and top edge gilt. With the armorial bookplate of Bertram Freeman Mitford, Earl of Redesdale, grandfather of the Mitford sisters. With 36 hand coloured aquatints by I.R. and George Cruikshank and 3 folding pages of songs. Two of the plates (facing pages 286 and 310 are laid down without the titles). The images illustrate the hilarious and bawdy adventures of Jerry and his companions in London. With adverts and original wrappers bound in. A beautiful example of the first edition.

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  • CLASSIC COMIC WORK IN SUPER MOSAIC BINDING BY RIVIERE
    The Bab Ballads with which are included the Songs of a Savoyard. by GILBERT, W. S.
    GILBERT, W. S.
    The Bab Ballads with which are included the Songs of a Savoyard.

    London: Macmillan and Co., 1932. Full morocco, 7 1/2 inches tall. A super mosaic binding by Riviere with gilt raised bands fine gilt floral tooling to the panels, gilt dentelles and all edges. On the boards, within elaborate gilt borders, splendid colourful morocco onlays illustrate two of the "Bab" Ballads, 'The Yarn of the "Nancy Bell"' on the upper board and 'For he who'd make his Fellow-Creatures Wise should always Gild the Philosophical Pill' on the lower. Embellished with 350 illustrations, also by W. S. Gilbert. Very slight rubbing and an extensive neat ink inscription on the first blank, otherwise a pristine collection of Gilbert's light verse, named after is childhood nickname, in which he developed his "topsy-turvy" style of humour.

    View basket More details Price: £980.00
  • 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.

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  • 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
  • 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 COMBE, William. ROWLANDSON, Thomas (Illustrator).
    COMBE, 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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  • SPLENDID AND AMUSING AQUATINTS IN ELEGANT FULL MOROCCO
    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 morocco, 9 1/2 inches tall. A superb Victorian binding with gilt raised bands 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 Alexander Lawson Duncan. There is some discolouration on the upper board, otherwise 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.…

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    London: Thomas Boys, 1820. Full morocco, 9 1/2 inches tall. A superb Victorian binding with gilt raised bands 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 Alexander Lawson Duncan. There is some discolouration on the upper board, otherwise 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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  • RARE LIMITED EDITION IN SUPERB FULL MOROCCO BY J. WRIGHT
    Facetiae. Musarum Deliciae: or, The Muses Recreation. Conteining Severall Pieces of Poetique Wit. By Sr.J.M.and Ja:S. 1656. and Wit Restor'd, in Several Select Poems, not Formerly Publish't. 1658 etc etc. by MENNIS, Sir John & SMITH, Dr. James
    MENNIS, Sir John & SMITH, Dr. James
    Facetiae. Musarum Deliciae: or, The Muses Recreation. Conteining Severall Pieces of Poetique Wit. By Sr.J.M.and Ja:S. 1656. and Wit Restor'd, in Several Select Poems, not Formerly Publish't. 1658 etc etc.

    London: Longman et al., 1817. 2 volume set, 7 3/4 inches tall. A superb full crushed morocco by J. Wright, one of the greatest binders of the period. With gilt raised bands, smart labels and extra gilt panels. Gilt dentelles and all edges. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey. Vice Admiral Sir John Mennis (or Mennes), was an English naval officer, who went on to be Comptroller of the Navy. He was also considered a wit. His comic and satirical verses, written in correspondence with James Smith, were published in 1656. He figures prominently in the Diary of Samuel Pepys, who reported directly to Mennes at the Navy Office and thought him an incompetent…

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    London: Longman et al., 1817. 2 volume set, 7 3/4 inches tall. A superb full crushed morocco by J. Wright, one of the greatest binders of the period. With gilt raised bands, smart labels and extra gilt panels. Gilt dentelles and all edges. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey. Vice Admiral Sir John Mennis (or Mennes), was an English naval officer, who went on to be Comptroller of the Navy. He was also considered a wit. His comic and satirical verses, written in correspondence with James Smith, were published in 1656. He figures prominently in the Diary of Samuel Pepys, who reported directly to Mennes at the Navy Office and thought him an incompetent civil servant, but a delightful social companion. Pepys stated that Mennes's skills as a poet and mimic made him the best of company. He describes a memorable evening when Mennes and John Evelyn engaged in a mimicry contest. Mennes's highly entertaining verses first appeared in 1656 as Musarum Deliciæ or the Muses's Recreation. They appear here in a scarce Regency edition.

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  • LIMITED EDITION IN SPLENDID FULL CRUSHED MOROCCO
    Merry Drollery Compleat being Jovial Poems, Merry Songs, &c.; Westminster Drolleries.....Sung at Court & Theaters; Choyce Drollery: Songs & Sonnets. by EBSWORTH, J. Woodfall (Edited by, With a Special Introduction).
    EBSWORTH, J. Woodfall (Edited by, With a Special Introduction).
    Merry Drollery Compleat being Jovial Poems, Merry Songs, &c.; Westminster Drolleries.....Sung at Court & Theaters; Choyce Drollery: Songs & Sonnets.

    Boston, Lincolnshire: Robert Roberts, 1875, 1875 & 1876. 3 Volume Set, 7 inches tall. A beautiful late Victorian full crushed morocco binding Andrew Grieve of Edinburgh in pristine condition. With gilt raised bands and extra gilt tooling to the panels. Dense gilt corner tooling and a single pallet frame the boards. Gilt top edges. These reprints are limited to 400 copies and were originally printed in the seventeenth century. With 2 blookplates to each volume. A selection of Restoration poetry for 'Lovers of Wit' and as an 'Antidote Against Melancholy'.

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  • SCARCE SATIRICAL WORK WITH LIVELY HAND-COLOURED PLATES
    Real Life in Ireland. by ANONYMOUS. (EGAN, Pierce (in the manner of)). HEATH, William, ALKEN, Henry and others, (illustrated by).
    ANONYMOUS. (EGAN, Pierce (in the manner of)). HEATH, William, ALKEN, Henry and others, (illustrated by).
    Real Life in Ireland.

    London: Jones & Co., 1822. Half morocco, 8 1/2 inches tall. A handsome Victorian binding by Murphy of Liverpool, with gilt raised bands, fine gilt tooling incorporating shamrocks in the panels and gilt top edge. With an hilarious hand-coloured frontispiece and 18 further outrageous plates by, amongst others, Henry Alken and William Heath. The binding is slightly faded, but still bright. There is some foxing, occasional creasing and slight grubbiness but overall an unusually good example of this scarce work in the style of Pierce Egan.

    View basket More details Price: £650.00
  • 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.

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  • GREAT 'OLD COMEDIES' IN FULL CALF
    (Poetae Scenici Graecorum). Aristophanis Comoediae. by ARISTOPHANIS
    ARISTOPHANIS
    (Poetae Scenici Graecorum). Aristophanis Comoediae.

    Lipsiae (Liepzig), Sumptibus librariae Hahnianae, 1845. 4 volume set, 8 1/2 inches tall. A handsome and charming binding by Budden of Cambridge with the title labels reading out the author's name. With gilt raised bands, delicate floral gilt tooling to the panels and twin labels. There is a degree of rubbing and scuffing to the shoulders and some foxing but still a solid great looking set. This is the complete section on Aristophanes from a much larger set of ancient Greek poetic works. Included are some the earliest and greatest works of comedy or 'Old Comedy', including 'The Clouds', 'The Wasps', 'The Birds', 'The Frogs' and Lysistra.' In the original Greek.

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  • SCARCE WORK IN SUPERB FULL CALF
    Eccentric Tales, In Verse. by CRAMBO, Cornelius (RHODES, W.B.)
    CRAMBO, Cornelius (RHODES, W.B.)
    Eccentric Tales, In Verse.

    London: Tipper, 1808. Full calf, 6.75 inches tall. A delightful and extraordinary work in fine full late 19th century calf by Morrell. With gilt raised bands, twin labels and floral gilt tooling to the panels. Gilt dentelles and all edges. The scarce first edition of this collection of 13 irreverent ballads. Folding hand coloured frontispiece by Atkinson.

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  • CURIOUS AND RARE ITEM IN SUPERB FULL CALF
    Tis Merry when Gossips Meet. Pasquil’s Night-Cap. by ROWLANDS, Samuel. FENNOR, William
    ROWLANDS, Samuel. FENNOR, William
    Tis Merry when Gossips Meet. Pasquil’s Night-Cap.

    Chiswick Press: C. Whittingham, 1819. Full calf, 7.5 inches tall. A superbly bound volume with gilt raised bands and ornate blind tooling to the panels and boards, typical of the Regency period. Slight rubbing. Bookplate and Binder's Ticket for T.Sowler of St. Ann's Square, Manchester. A very curious and rare work containing 2 reprints, the first published originally by John Deane in 1609, the second by Thomas Thorp in 1612. Titled 'Ancient Humorous Poetry' on the spine.

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