A'BECKETT, Gilbert Abbott. The Comic History of England . London: Bradbury and Evans for The Punch Office, 1847-48. 2 volumes, 8° (218 x 138mm.). Half-titles printed in red, titles in red and black, wood-engraved illustrations and 20 hand-coloured etched plates after John Leech EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED WITH 22 PENCIL AND PEN-AND-INK DRAWINGS BY JOHN LEECH mounted to size opposite the relevant plate or illustration, 21 heightened with watercolour. Later blue morocco gilt, t.e.g., by Riviere & Son, original cloth covers and spines bound in at rear. Provenance : Algernon Dunn Gardner (bookplate); Sir Alfred H. Aykroyd (Sothebys sale 10 April 1967 lot 1 sold for #150 to Maggs). FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. 15 of the drawings are versions of plates, 7 of illustrations, most are signed either 'J.Leech' or 'J.L.'. There are duplicate versions of the frontispiece to vol.I, for three other plates (including an uncoloured pencil draft) and for one of the illustrations, and three drafts for another of the illustrations. The drawings are all finished to a remarkable degree, and the coloured drawings of the uncoloured illustrations are particularly interesting. There is a note in vol.I to the effect that the drawings were brought from the artist's daughter. Abbey Life 434; Tooley 295; Ray 136.
A'BECKETT, Gilbert Abbott. The Comic History of England . London: Bradbury and Evans for The Punch Office, 1847-48. 2 volumes, 8° (218 x 138mm.). Half-titles printed in red, titles in red and black, wood-engraved illustrations and 20 hand-coloured etched plates after John Leech EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED WITH 22 PENCIL AND PEN-AND-INK DRAWINGS BY JOHN LEECH mounted to size opposite the relevant plate or illustration, 21 heightened with watercolour. Later blue morocco gilt, t.e.g., by Riviere & Son, original cloth covers and spines bound in at rear. Provenance : Algernon Dunn Gardner (bookplate); Sir Alfred H. Aykroyd (Sothebys sale 10 April 1967 lot 1 sold for #150 to Maggs). FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. 15 of the drawings are versions of plates, 7 of illustrations, most are signed either 'J.Leech' or 'J.L.'. There are duplicate versions of the frontispiece to vol.I, for three other plates (including an uncoloured pencil draft) and for one of the illustrations, and three drafts for another of the illustrations. The drawings are all finished to a remarkable degree, and the coloured drawings of the uncoloured illustrations are particularly interesting. There is a note in vol.I to the effect that the drawings were brought from the artist's daughter. Abbey Life 434; Tooley 295; Ray 136.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
