“AGAIN, I SAY—GO NOT TO THE TOWER. DANGER LURKS THEREIN”

AINSWORTH, William Harrison. The Tower of London: A Historical Romance. Illustrated by George Cruikshank. London: Richard Bentley, 1840. Thick octavo, early 20th-century three-quarter purple morocco gilt, raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edge gilt. $950.

First edition in book form of Ainsworth’s novel of Lady Jane Grey, with 40 etchings on steel and 58 wood engravings by George Cruikshank—“one of the most productive and individualistic of English illustrators” (Hodnett, 114), handsomely bound.

"Ainsworth's novels are noteworthy… for their vivid pageant of scenery and historical accuracy" (Kunitz & Haycraft, 7), and The Tower of London ranks as one of his best: "On a ground of solid antiquarianism Ainsworth applied 'local color' thickly, touching it off with sentiment, rhetoric and horror. The horrific has proved to be his most memorable note, and with the help of Cruikshank's illustrations there are episodes in The Tower of London which may still provoke a shudder" (Baugh et al., 1276). First published in 13 parts the same year. Plates facing pages 16, 28 and 45 all in second state (other plates without differences observed between issue in parts and book issue). Cohn 14. Sadleir 31. Armorial bookplate. Bookplate.

Only light scattered foxing to interior. A lovely, about-fine copy.