CRUIKSHANK AT HOME, WITH 39 WOOD-ENGRAVED PLATES, HANDSOMELY BOUND

CRUIKSHANK, Robert. Cruikshank at Home: A New Family Album of Endless Entertainment. With Numerous Illustrations Engraved on Wood. First, Second and Third Series. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1845. Three volumes. 12mo, mid-20th century three-quarter crushed blue morocco gilt, raised bands, marbled boards. $450.

Early editions of these literary anthologies illustrated with 39 wood-engravings and numerous vignettes by Isaac Robert Cruikshank, handsomely bound by Root & Son.

Famous caricaturist George Cruikshank’s elder brother Isaac Robert was best known for his Life in London (1821), in which he introduced the characters of Corinthian Tom and Jerry Hawthorn (“Tom and Jerry”). In these volumes, Cruikshank illustrates several humorous anecdotes in 39 wood-engraved plates and numerous woodcut vignettes. First published in undated volumes sometime between 1831-35 by W. Kidd. A fourth volume, The Odd Volume, illustrated by Cruikshank and Robert Seymour, appeared in 1835. The series is often found with The Odd Volume; however, according to that volume’s preface, its designs “were originally intended for a fourth volume of Cruikshank at Home but, in consequence of the late disagreement between the two brothers Cruikshank [over their respective talents], the projected title has been changed and the work, by the assistance of Mr. Seymour, metamorphosed into an ‘odd’ volume.”

Spines uniformly toned to green. Fine condition.