A COMIC ALPHABET
by Cruikshank, George
- Used
- Hardcover
- Condition
- Collectible-Very Good
- Seller
-
Williamsburg, Virginia, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Pentonville (London): George Cruikshank, 1837. 24mo. 2nd edition, with the 1836 date on the front cover and 1837 hiding in a background poster on the rear cover. Published as a paperback with black and white engraved covers and 24 hand-colored engraved plates on a single sheet folded accordion style. This example was rebound in full brown leather during the 19th century by Pomey, who has been described variously as a noted Parisian bookbinder or as an English binder. Both covers are intricately tooled in gilt & black and feature gilt letters of the alphabet around the borders. Covers are bound in. Everything about this book shouts that it is the work of famed British caricaturist George Cruikshank (1792-1878). Ostensibly a children's book (like most alphabet books), its themes, language, even the jokes clearly are aimed at adults. As he was wont to do, Cruikshank focused the alphabet on problems in British society: for example, E for Equality shows a typical upper crust dandy strolling arm-in-arm with a soot covered chimney sweep. Words are often beyond the understanding of children: for example, Zoophyte is hardly one which would help a 10-year-old comprehend the letter Z (nor is the child likely to get the joke of a man eating a plant in the shape of a pig). One note about Pomey's design for the binding: his alphabet only goes up to the letter U, and I wonder if he simply ran out of room or perhaps was adding one final bit of humor to Cruikshank's work. The condition of the book is very good: bound tightly; pages are clean; color of illustrations remains quite bright. The book has been rebacked, which becomes obvious only with closer examination of the joints. The original spine with gilt title and date (1836) is laid down on the rebacking, and the decorated covers are not compromised in any way. The binding remains a very attractive and appropriate salute to the paperback original.. Second Edition. Hardcover. Collectible-Very Good. Illus. by George Cruikshank. 24mo - over 5" - 5¾" tall. Book.
Synopsis
Cover title. Originally published: Pentonville [England] : G. Cruikshank, 1836. Printed on one side of strip folded accordion style and attached to cover. Illustrated paper boards.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Tennyson Williams, Books and Fine Art (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- W1825
- Title
- A COMIC ALPHABET
- Author
- Cruikshank, George
- Illustrator
- George Cruikshank
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Collectible-Very Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- Second Edition
- Publisher
- George Cruikshank
- Place of Publication
- Pentonville (London)
- Date Published
- 1837
- Size
- 24mo - over 5" - 5�" tall
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
- Bookseller catalogs
- Illustrated Books; Humor;
Terms of Sale
Tennyson Williams, Books and Fine Art
We hold books only for firm orders. Books may be returned within 7 days of receipt for refund of purchase price. We pay shipping costs only if we have made a significant error in description.
About the Seller
Tennyson Williams, Books and Fine Art
Biblio member since 2004
Williamsburg, Virginia
About Tennyson Williams, Books and Fine Art
Our office, located in historic Williamsburg, Virginia, is open by appointment or by chance. We are antiquarian booksellers who buy and sell carefully selected books for collectors and researchers in many genre. We also sell important autographs and photographs as well as original art, including wood engravings by Winslow Homer and J. J. Lankes; lithographs by Miró, Matisse, Calder, Wengenroth, and others; and works from the American Etching Revival. You can reach us by telephone: (757)378-5400; or by email: twbooks1@cox.net.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Rebacked
- having had the material covering the spine replaced. ...
- Rebound
- A book in which the pages have been bound into a covering replacing the original covering issued by the publisher.
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...