Pictures of Life & Character From the Collection of Mr. Punch, Complete in 5 Volumes.
London: Bradbury and Evans, 1855. First editions. Hardcover. Early 19th century English engravings of wit and humor, with many plates all published in the Punch Magazine,of which Thackeray exclaimed, "This book is better than plum-cake at Christmas." One of the great visual repositories of mid- Victorian English life and humor, some full page, on horses, horse racing (Vol. I, a full page plate entitled "Memorials of the Great Exhibition of 1851, The Great Derby Race for Eighteen Hundred and Fifty-One"), hunting, cricket, deep sea diving and emigration, Australian gold. rushes etc
Issued between 1855 - 1869. Oblong folio later bound in green buckrum, five volumes (31 X 46 cm); first, second, third, fourth and fifth series, Visible in the gutter of the residue of the original paper wrapers.Covers have gilt title and volume numbers to spines. Vol. I: 94pp, Index (2); Vol. II: 96pp; Vol. III: 94pp, Index (2); Vol. IV: 96pp; Vol. V: 94pp, ads (1). Internally, clean and bright; Vol. III and V have light damp marking visible at top half of the early pages. Houfe 35; cf. also Ray 139 (for 1886 collected ed.) OCLC 1956277. Overall very good condition. Item #13394
Price: $250.00