THE INGOLDSBY LEGENDS or Mirth and Marvels: First Series, Second Series, Third Series

Popular collection of myths, legends, ghost stories, and poems, which first appeared in the magazine Bentley's Miscellany and later in The New Monthly Magazine. Octavo, three volumes: xii, 338, [2] pp. + vii, [1], 288 pp. + vi, [2], 364 pp. Each volume with the decorated title page, a steel engraving, and full-page plates engraved by Buss [after Dalton], George Cruikshank, and John Leech. The third volume includes a portrait frontispiece of the author. In the publisher's midnight blue morocco-grain cloth bindings, with blind-stamped ruled borders and knotted strapwork surround on the front and rear panels, and blind-stamped bands and gilt-stamped heraldic devices and titling on the spines. Mild foxing to the plates and opposing leaves, with the period bookplate of William Greenwood to each front pastedown. An early signature in the second volume is a little loose. The bindings are fresh and bright, with just a hint of rubbing to the gilt. A very good set. Provenance: from the Publishers' Bookbindings collection of Ellen K. Morris and Edward S. Levin.…