George Cruikshank: The Artist, the Humorist and the Man. Augmented by a Copiously Annotated Bibligraphical Appendix, and Additional Plates on India Paper. 2 Vols. [UNIQUE EXTRA ILLUSTRATED COPY, FROM THE LIBRARY OF PRINCE HENRY, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER - SIGNED BY CRUIKSHANK MULTIPLE TIMES]

Bates, William

Published by Houlston and Sons/ Houghton and Hammond, London/Birmingham, 1879

Quarto. 38pp., plates; 39-94pp., plates. The copy of the Duke of Gloucester, with his bookplate, bound in two quarto volumes of black half crushed morroco over rose cloth. This copy contains 498 extra illustrations, predominately leaves taken from the printed works of Cruikshank, including 29 hand-colored plates, and several title pages and portraits of the author. All have been inlaid to size; the illustrations are often grouped two (and occasionally more) per leaf. Notable among the added material are the following: 1. Albumen print of Cruikshank by the London firm of Maull & Polyblank 2. Cruikshank's large signature in black ink and an original sketch dated August 18th, 1836 3. Cruikshank's portrait and signature stamped in gilt on black pebbled cloth (a book cover?) 4. "Bachelor's Own Book, Being the Progress of Mr Lambkin," 4 leaves, bound-in at the rear, with 24 illustrations, arranged four per page (Glasgow: David Bryce & Son) 5. First 8 numbered pages (4 leaves) from an edition of Cruikshank's Omnibus, entitled "My Portrait" inlaid to size. 6. Folding plate: "Probable Effects of Over Female Emigration, or Importing the Fair Sex from the Savage Islands in Consequence of Exporting All Our Own to Ausralia!!!!!" 7. Folding plate: "Passing Events, or The Tail of the Comet of 1853." There is one notable bibliographical detail about our copy of this second edition. Apart from the publisher's compliment of 18 plates noted in the list at the beginning of the first volume, the work comprises only 94 pages of text, which would have been issued in a single volume. All copies located via OCLC appear to contain a single title page, with (obviously) no indication of volume number. Our copy, however, contains two title pages, designated as "Vol. I" and "Vol. II." These were provided especially for a copy that would be extra-illustrated; in this case to accomodate the Duke of Gloucester.* Some light wear along edges of binding. Offsetting of plates to facing blank pages with some light foxing to original text pages, less pronounced in volume two. Very good to fine condition. *From a British Royal Family Library. Personal possession of Prince Henry, the Duke of Glaucester, brother of King Georg VI., the grandfather of King Charles III. He reigned from 1936 to 1952. Two vols. created at the express wish of the Royal Family. Seller Inventory # 54934

Bibliographic Details

Title: George Cruikshank: The Artist, the Humorist ...
Publisher: Houlston and Sons/ Houghton and Hammond, London/Birmingham
Publication Date: 1879
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very good to fine condition
Edition: Second edition, revised.