A FINE ALBUM OF THOMAS BEWICK VIGNETTES OR "TALE-PIECES" INSCRIBED BY BEWICK AND PRESENTED TO RICHARD ARKWRIGHT IN 1824

Bewick, Thomas

Published by Thomas Bewick, No place, 1824

Bewick, Thomas. A FINE ALBUM OF THOMAS BEWICK VIGNETTES OR "TAIL-PIECES" [TALE-PIECES] INSCRIBED BY BEWICK AND PRESENTED TO RICHARD ARKWRIGHT IN 1824. [No place}: {Thomas Bewick], [1824]. 24mo - 5-11/16" x 4-1/4". Contemporary dark-blue straight-grain morocco covered boards with gilt-roll border and emblematic tools (an angler's basket and a fish) in the corners and at center of both front and back covers, spine tooled and lettered in gilt, and with gilt dentelles; presumably bound by Bewick for presentation to Richard Arkwright, with slight rubbing to edges and corners, and minor darkening/rubbing- to the gilt for what is a beautiful copy of this very special little book. Dark gray endpapers with the bookplate of "Arkwright of Sutton Scarsdale / Co. Derby." to front pastedown. a.e.g. [4] blank leaves, [8] leaves of plates, interleaved with [8] blank leaves, [4] blank leaves bound in landscape format. A charming and unique album of 8 proof printing woodcut tail-pieces or tale pieces by Thomas Bewick, all with a pastoral or fishing theme, WITH AN INKED GIFT INSCRIPTION IN BEWICK'S HAND TO FRONT PLATE, "Thomas Bewick to Mr. Arkwright, 7 Aug. 1824." Included woodcuts are: elderly gentleman angler on horseback, angler disturbed while fishing when his dog barks at a bull, heron catches an eel, cows in the water, two images of fish (a John Dory and a Brandling), a well-dressed man rides a gray horse leading a train of five other horses, and a sow yoked with sticks watches as nine of her piglets run through an open gate; some of these woodcuts were said to be intended for Bewick's abandoned History of British Fishes; minor foxing internally. The condition of the book is VERY GOOD +. This is truly a very special little book. Seller Inventory # 001052

Bibliographic Details

Title: A FINE ALBUM OF THOMAS BEWICK VIGNETTES OR "...
Publisher: Thomas Bewick, No place
Publication Date: 1824
Binding: Hardcover
Illustrator: Bewick, Thomas
Condition: Very Good +
Signed: Inscribed by Illustrator(s)