Lives of Wits and Humourists. In Two Volumes.

[Bayntun Binding] John Timbs. Lives of Wits and Humourists. In Two Volumes. London: Richard Bentley, 1862. FINE BINDING AND BESPOKE DETAILS(185 x 120 mm) 2 vol. Vol I: pp. xiv, 396, signatures: A-Z8, AA-CC8, Vol II: pp. x, 392, signatures A-Z8, AA-BB8, CC4. Bound in fully calf with matching gilt stamped decorations on front covers and spine panels, title, author, and 'extra illustrated 1862' in gilt in panels. Gauffered turn ins and silk paste down and fly leaves. Signed Bayntun Binder, Bath, Eng. in gilt along bottom, signed Stewart Kidd, Cincinnati in gilt along top of interior front cover. Fore edges fully gilt. Brown silk-style book mark. Final page of Vol. I repaired (likely by Bayntun). Some occasional inoffensive spotting. Overall NEAR FINE condition. This is a beautiful example of Bayntun's 20th century work, coupled with the innovation of adding in additional plates to illustrate the text. The additional plates have been gathered from 19th and late 18th century sources to "extra illustrate" the text. Complete list of additional plates: Vol I: Jonathan Swift (coloured plate) frontis; Dryden (copper plate, late 18th-early 19th c) 8; Alexander Pope (coloured plate, 1807) 56; Isaac Newton (steel) 84; Richard Steele (tipped in on passe partout) 122; Cottage at Haverstock Hill (tipped in on passe partout) 156; Printed handwritten letter from Richard Steele (tipped in on passe partout) 156; Samuel Footeoote (tipped in on passe partout) 186; Oliver Goldsmith (coloured plate, 1809) 250; Dr. Johnson, Goldsmith, Boswell (bifolium) 306; Bonnel Thornton (steel plate) 354; George Colman (steel plate) 362. Vol II: Sydney Smith (coloured plate, 1862) frontis; Brinsley Sheridan (steel plate) 1; Johnson (steel plate) 16; William Howey (steel engraving, 1836) 64; Charles James Fox (coloured plate) 80; George Canning (steel plate, 1893) 104; Ricardus Porson (copper plate) 138; Samuel Parr (steel plate) 164; Robert Nares (steel plate) 220; Henry Brougham 252; Theodore Edward Hook 282; James Smith (coloured plate) 346.…