Volume 1 of My Sketch Book, George Cruikshank 1834. 1st ed. 24 h/coloured plates

Volume 1 of My Sketch Book.

By George Cruikshank.

Designed, etched and published by George Cruikshank 23 Middleton Terrace Pentonville and sold by Charles Tilt 86 Fleet Street with the imprint dated December 1st 1834.
First edition. First issue.

Two volumes.

The scarce self-published first issue of this suite of 24 delicately hand-coloured plates by the great 19th century comic illustrator, George Cruikshank.
This suite was reissued in 1835-36 under the same title but with an additional 12 plates, making 36 in total.

The subject matter of the plates, most of which include multiple images, is very much in Cruikshank’s unique comic observational style and many of the larger illustrations contain much in the way of fine detail.
They paint a vivid picture of the sights and characters that Cruikshank must have witnessed on a daily basis around his home in Islington, London and on his travels.

COLLATION: Complete in two slim volumes.
The first volume contains an engraved hand coloured title page followed by 12 delicately hand coloured plates each interleaved with a blank leaf.
The second volume commences with a printed advertisement page signed (in print) by Cruikshank very publicly disassociating himself from a number of named books published by a Mr Kidd of Chandos Street which were illustrated by his brother Robert.
This is followed by a further 12 delicately hand coloured plates, each again interleaved with a blank leaf.

BINDING: Bound in contemporary marble paper wrappers, professionally rebacked in cloth.

CONDITION: Edges of the wrappers rubbed and with a small tear to the lower edge and loss to the lower corner of the front wrapper of the second volume.
Occasional light finger-marking and dust-soiling to the margins of some leaves.
Advertisement leaf creased, crudely cut with scissors at its upper edge (with no loss of text) and with a small tear to its lower edge.

Otherwise, clean copies of a scarce work with the page blocks sound and the bindings in good condition.

Each book measures 18cm by 27.5cm (landscape).
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POSTAGE
Special delivery to the UK is £9.50

Tracked airmail to Europe is £17.30

Tracked airmail to the rest of the world is £28.90

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