Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$4000.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: An elaborate extra illustrated set. Two 8vo volumes. These books contain approximately 170 extra plates, portraits, and miscellany, all bound in. Fifteen plates are hand-colored and many of the plates are folded. There are 66 woodcuts and 8 autograph letters and many plates with facsimile signatures. Bound in late 19th-century red crushed morocco in Kelliegram style by Kelly & Sons. Their stamped signature can by found on the verso of the front free endpaper. The covers and spine are illustrated with various comic characters - almost human but not quite. Cruikshank's signature also appears in facsimile. Leather turn-ins to all four boards. Marbled endpapers. Top edge gilt. The 8 signed letters and/or notes are signed by Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone, authors, Charles MacKay, S.C. Hall, Lord Haughton (Michael Monckton Milnes - who was a pall-bearer at Cruikshank's funeral) , the editor of the Chruikshank Omnibus Samuel Laman Blanchard, biographer John Forster and poet, R. H. Horne. Cruikshank, perhaps now most famous for his connection with the works of Charles Dickens, was, in his time an incredibly brilliant satirical illustrator, skewering royalty, politicians and anyone he deemed deserving. Not only is this a beautiful two volume set, it is an important document which brings the talents of this amazing artist into focus. Fine.
Seller: First Place Books - ABAA, ILAB, Walkersville, MD, U.S.A.