THE COMIC HISTORY OF ENGLAND
London: Published at the Punch Office, 1847-1848. First Edition. Wraps. Original twenty parts in nineteen, published from July 1946 to February 1848. Octavo: xii, 320; xii, 304 p. Twenty colored steel-engravings after designs by John Leech, plus 240 woodcuts in the text.
The set collates near complete: lacking the pink slip advertising The Battle of Life and Dombey & Son at the front of Part VI. The back wrapper of Part XVIII supplied from a Part XI (with "Elements of Botany" on the inside and "Mr. Dickens New Monthly Work" on the outside). The ads on the back wrapper of Part V match those called for by Tooley (with "Opinions of the Press" on the inside and "Rowlands Macassar Oil" on the outside) rather than Abbey (with "First Vol. of the Music Book" on the inside and "Works by G. A'Beckett" on the outside).
Original blue printed wrappers. The usual rebacking. A very clean and bright set. Housed in a full olive morocco folding case (spine faded to brown).
"Among the most popular and best of Leech's work" (Tooley 296).
From the library of revered English actor, comedian, musician, and writer Eric Idle, accompanied by a letter of provenance. Idle (b.1943) is a founding member of the British comedy troupe Monty Python, as well as the parody rock group The Rutles, and is the writer of the music and lyrics for the hit Broadway musical Spamalot. Very good. Item #75463
Price: $2,000.00