"EVERY GENTLEMAN OUGHT TO KNOW A LITTLE OF LAW, SAYS COKE, AND PERHAPS, SAY WE, THE LESS THE BETTER"

A'BECKETT, Gilbert A. The Comic Blackstone. London: Published at the Punch Office, 1846. Small octavo, 20th-century full burgundy morocco, raised bands, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, tan morocco spine label, marbled endpapers, uncut. $750.

First one-volume edition of this loving lampoon of Blackstone's landmark legal commentary, illustrated with frontispiece, title-page vignette and one in-text illustration by George Cruikshank, handsomely bound.

"The first point to be made about Victorian laughter is simply that there was so much of it" (Donald J. Gray)— a truth borne out by this mirthful, much-illustrated work by Gilbert Abbott a'Beckett, "one of the wittiest writers of the day," (Allibone, 152) whose "Comic Histories" of Rome and England also proved popular. "Few could have travestied so well the real Blackstone, following it literally step by step" (Allibone, 152). In this updated edition of his father's book, Arthur William a'Beckett states his intention to adhere to the original edition's intent: "to aid… the project of combining instruction with amusement." First published in 1844.

Interior generally fine, frontispiece and title page remargined at gutter's edge and each with one expert paper repair, not affecting text or images. Binding handsome and fine.