The Tower of London - A Historical Romance

Descripción

(London: Richard Bentley 1840). First UK Edition, First Issue, the 3 plates mentioned by Cohn at pp. 16, 28 and 45 in their first state. 439 pages. Handsomely rebound in full red morocco with 5 raised bands to the spine with with title and author in gilt to the spine in panel 2. Marbled end-papers. There are two former owner's bookplates: Ex Libris Robert Hall 1902 to the front paste-down and Sir Alfred Seale Haslam (1844-1927) to the front free end-paper. All edges gilt, marbled end papers. With 40 etchings on steel and 58 wood engravings by George Cruikshank. Interestingly, this copy has a double set of plates (one coloured and the other un-coloured) and also includes an autograph signed letter by Cruikshank (partner of Ainsworth and Cruikshank). The pages are lightly toned and the plates are cleaner than most copies of this early title (foxing is often a major problem with this printing and this copy has largely escaped that fate). Near fine. Cohn 14. Sadleir 31. A handsome production. Ainsworth's The Tower of London is the first successful English exploitation of London topography along the lines of Eugène Sue's Mysteries of Paris and, pre-eminently, Victor Hugo's Notre Dame de Paris. [Sutherland, p. 633]. "The technical excellence of the best of these plates in their fidelity to historical detail suggests that during these years [working with Ainsworth, 1836-41] Cruikshank had adopted an altogether more ambitious view if the illustrators's role. He shared Ainsworth's concern for minute accuracy in the rendering of architectural setting, period costume, and so forth; and as their correspondence shows, the two conferred at length about such matters and together conducted a good deal of on-the-spot research. In preparing the designs Cruikshank clearly found some measure of compensation for the career as an historical painter from which his lack of academic training debarred him". [E. D. H.Johnson, p. 18-19] Photographs/scans available upon request. N° de ref. del artículo 355490723286

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