• Vol. 1: Title page (red and black): THE | COMIC HISTORY OF ENGLAND • | BY GILBERT ABBOTT A'BECKETT. | {vignette with one line caption} | WITH TEN COLOURED ETCHINGS AND ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY | WOODCUTS, | BY JOHN LEECH. | VOL. I. | PUBLISHED AT THE PUNCH OFFICE, 85, FLEET STREET. | MDCCCXLVII. || Pagination: [iii-iv] – t.p. / imprint., [v]-vi – preface, [vii]-viii – contents, [ix]-xii – list of ills. [1] 2-320, lacking half-title otherwise as called for by Tooley (1935) p. 161. Collation: 8vo; π3 b2 B-X8 plus 10 plates, incl. frontispiece, of hand-coloured steel engravings and 120 in-text woodcuts by John Leech. Vol. 2: Title page: similar but “VOL. II.” And “MDCCCXLVIII”; typeface “with ten coloured…” is different (sans serif). Pagination: [iii-iv] – t.p. / imprint., [v]-vi – advert., [vii]-viii – contents, [ix]-xii – list of ills. [1] 2-304, lacking half-title otherwise as called for by Tooley (1935) p. 161. Collation: 8vo; π3 b2 B-U8 X2 plus 10 plates, incl. frontispiece, of hand-coloured steel engravings and 120 in-text woodcuts by John Leech. Binding: two volumes 22 x 14.5 cm each uniformly bound in full tan calf with gilt double-fillet border, spine gilt in compartments with red and green morocco labels lettered in gilt, blind-stamped dentelle inside, blue marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, additional flyleafs at the front and end. Catalogue raisonné: Hardie p. 210-11; Abbey, Life № 434, p. 362; Tooley (1935) p. 161 Contributors: Gilbert Abbott à Beckett (British, 1811 – 1856) – author. John Leech (British, 1817 – 1864) – artist. Bradbury & Evans (Whitefriars); William Bradbury (British, 1799 – 1869); Frederick Mullett Evans (British, 1804 – 1870) – printer. Punch – publisher.
  • Vol. 1: Collation: 8vo; π4 1-98 104 111, (total 81 leaves), plus 22 plates, incl. frontispiece, each in two states, before and after lettering, (total 44 leaves of plates). Pagination: [i-v] vi-viii [1] 2-154, ils. Vol. 2:  Collation: 8vo; π2 1-118 123, (total 93 leaves), plus 18 plates, each in two states, before and after lettering, (total 36 leaves of plates). Pagination: [4] [1] 2-182, ils. Binding: two volumes, 23.3 x 15.5 cm each, uniformly bound in red crushed morocco, raised bands and gilt lettering to spine, elaborate gilt dentelle inside, marbled endpapers; text printed on slightly blueish laid paper, two edges roughly trimmed, top edge gilt. Plates in two states, before lettering in black and with lettering in sepia, drawn and engraved/etched by Nicolas Ransonnette. Bookplates "Ex Libris Laurentii Aurrie" and another, lettered "D J T F", to front pastedown in both volumes. Catalogue raisonné: Lewine: 248; Cohen-deRicci: 502-3. Both Lewine and Cohen & de Ricci attribute “Aventures” to Diego Hurtado de Mendoza (Spanish, 1503 – 1575, whose authorship seems quite unlikely. Contributors: Nicolas Ransonnette (French, 1745 – 1810) – artist/engraver. Pierre-Nicolas Firmin Didot (French, 1769 – 1836) – publisher/printer. Jean Antoine de Charnes (French, 1641 – 1728) – translator. George De Backer (French, fl. 1691 – 1726) – translator/editor.
  • Woodcut pictorial title page (red and black): THE | COMIC | HISTORY | OF | ROME | By GILBERT ABBOTT À BECKETT. | ILLUSTRATED BY JOHN LEECH. | BRADBURY AND EVANS, 11, BOUVERIE STREET. || Pagination: [iii-iv] – t.p. / imprint., [v]-vi – preface, [vii]-viii – contents, [ix]-xii – list of ills., [1] 2-308, lacking half-title (i-ii) otherwise as called for by Tooley (1935) p. 162. Collation: π1 b4 B-U8 X2 plus 10 plates, incl. frontispiece, of hand-coloured steel engravings and 98 in-text woodcuts by John Leech. Imprint: “LONDON: | BRADBURY AND EVANS, PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS.”; same in the colophon on p. 308, in one line. Binding: 22 x 14.5 cm, full tan calf with gilt double-fillet border, spine gilt in compartments with red morocco label lettered in gilt, blind-stamped dentelle inside, marbled endpapers, additional flyleaf at the end (binding similar to 2-volume “The Comic History of England” LIB-2847.2021, making three volumes in total). Edition: 1st thus (in book form), without “and Co.” in the imprint on t.p. verso. Catalogue raisonné: Tooley (1935) p. 162. Catalogue raisonné: Hardie p. 210; Abbey, Life № 435, p. 365-6; Tooley (1935) p. 162. Contributors: Gilbert Abbott à Beckett (British, 1811 – 1856) – author. John Leech (British, 1817 – 1864) – artist. Bradbury & Evans (Whitefriars); William Bradbury (British, 1799 – 1869); Frederick Mullett Evans (British, 1804 – 1870) – printer.
  • Three volumes, 8vo, 20.5 x 13.5 cm each, uniformly bound in crimson morocco, ruled in triple-fillet gilt, flat spine, triple-fillet gilt-ruled compartments with gilt elements in compartments, two black labels lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, multiple woodcut tailpieces. Armorial bookplate of Henricus Liber Baro de Gudenus to front pastedowns in all volumes: “HENRICVS LIBER BARO | DE GVDENVS | 1891 | Jauner”. Title-page: ROMANS | ET | CONTES | DE | M. DE VOLTAIRE | {chain rule} | TOME PREMIER (SECOND; TROISIEME). | {chain rule} | {publisher’s device with motto: “nuper sub modio nunc super”} | A BOUILLON, | AUX DEPENS DE LA SOCIETE TYPOGRAPHIQUE. | {floral rule} | M. DCC. LXXVIII. || Vol. 1: Collation: π2 (h.t., t.p.) a1 (table), A-T8, (Aiv unsigned), total 155 leaves plus 16 leaves of plates, incl. frontispiece, and two blanks – first and last, extraneous to collation. Frontispiece by Cathelin after de La Tour, unsigned t.p. vignette (device), 5 unsigned headpieces, and 15 plates after Monnet by Chatelin, Dambrun (5) Deny (6), Thiébault (2), and Vidal. Pagination: [i-v] vi [1-3] 4-304, total 310 pages, ils. Vol. 2: Collation: π2 (h.t., t.p.) a2 (table), A-V8, total 164 leaves plus 20 leaves of plates, incl. frontispiece, extraneous to collation, no blanks. Frontispiece by Dambrun after Monnet, unsigned t.p. vignette (device), 3 headpieces by Deny after Monnet, 2 unsigned headpieces, 19 plates: after Martiny by Deny; after Monnet by Baquoy, Dambrun (3), Deny (9), and Vidal (4); and after Moreau by Deny. Pagination: [i-v] vi-viii [1-3] 4-320, total 328 pages, ils. Vol.3: π2 (h.t., t.p.) a1 (table), A-O8 P6 a-f8 g1 h ('avis au relieur'), total 172 leaves plus 21 leaves of plates, incl. frontispiece, extraneous to collation, no blanks. Frontispiece by Dambrun after Monnet, unsigned t.p. vignette (device), indistinctly signed headpiece to “Jenni” after Monnet (probably Thiébault), 2 unsigned headpieces, 20 plates: after Marillier by Deny (4), Lorieux (2), Patas, and Vidal. Pagination: [i-v] vi [1-3] 4-236, [1-2] 3-102, total 328 pages, ils. Provenance: Heinrich von Gudenus [Heinrich Johann Baptist Ghislain von Gudenus] (Austrian, 1839 – 1915); ref.: Bibliotheca Ecclesiae Metropolitanae Strigoniensis. Catalogue raisonné: Ray (French): № 35, pp. 71-2; Cohen - de Ricci: 1038-9; Lewine: 562-3. Contributors: François Marie Arouet de Voltaire (French, 1694 – 1778) – author. Artists: Clément Pierre Marillier (French, 1740 – 1808) Maurice Quentin de La Tour (French, 1704 – 1788) Charles Monnet [Monet] (French, 1732 – 1819) Pietro Antonio Martini (Italian, 1738 – 1797) Jean-Michel Moreau [Moreau le Jeune] (French, 1741 – 1814) Engravers: Jean Charles Baquoy (French, 1721–1777) Louis-Jacques Cathelin (French, 1738 – 1804) John Baptist Chatelain (British, 1710 – 1758) Jean Dambrun (French, 1741 – 1808/14) Jeanne Deny (French, 1749 – c. 1815) Martial Deny (French, b. 1745) F. B. Lorieux (French, fl. 1786 – 1810) Charles Emmanuel Patas (French, 1744 – 1802) Elisabeth Thiébault (French, 18th century) Gérard Vidal (French, 1742 – 1801)
  • Title page: DIALOGUE AUX ENFERS | ENTRE | MACHIAVEL | ET MONTESQUIEU | OU LA POLITIQUE DE MACHIAVEL | AU XIXe SIÈCLE, | PAR UN CONTEMPORAIN. | {6 lines of citations} | ~ | BRUXELLES, | IMPRIMERIE DE A. MERTENS ET FILS, | RUE DE L’ESCALIER, 22. | 1864 ||

    Description: 17.9 x 12 cm, quarter red morocco over marbled boards, spine with raised bands, gilt bees in compartments, gilt lettering,  marbled endpapers, ffep cut out top 1/4, ffep and h.t. loose.

    Collation: 12mo; fep, π4 1-2712, 292, fep.; total 174 leaves. Pagination: [2 h.t] [2 t.p.] [i] ii-iii [iv] [1] 2-337 [338] [2 errata].

    Inscriptions and markings: "Hommage respectueux offert à M. Bourdais par son très humble serviteur, 5 Janvier 1881". Signature: E. Rouger (?) "Vu et approuvé". "Valatte". Ink stamp: "M<aîtr>e E. Brouard - Notaire a Laon Aisne".

    Other copies: LIB-1034.2016 and LIB-2913.2021. Other related objects: SVVP-0062.2021. The publication was funded by the author and smuggled into France. Contributors: Maurice Joly (French, 1829 – 1878)
  • Title page: DIALOGUE AUX ENFERS | ENTRE | MACHIAVEL | ET MONTESQUIEU | OU LA POLITIQUE DE MACHIAVEL | AU XIXe SIÈCLE, | PAR UN CONTEMPORAIN. | {6 lines of citations} | ~ | BRUXELLES, | IMPRIMERIE DE A. MERTENS ET FILS, | RUE DE L’ESCALIER, 22. | 1864 ||

    Description:18.7 x 11.8 cm, quarter red morocco over marbled boards, spine with raised bands ruled in gilt, gilt lettering, marbled endpapers.

    Collation: 12mo; fep, 1 blank, π4 1-2712, 292, 1 blank, fep.; total 176 leaves. Pagination: [2] [2 h.t] [2 t.p.] [i] ii-iii [iv] [1] 2-337 [338] [2 errata] [2]. Other copies: LIB-0460.2015 and LIB-1034.2016. Other related objects: SVVP-0062.2021. The publication was funded by the author and smuggled into France. Contributors: Maurice Joly (French, 1829 – 1878)
  • Description: Quarter red buckram over paper boards with fleur-de-lis diaper, 25.9 x 17.2 cm, gilt lettering to spine, in a cardboard slipcase, bookplate to front pastedown “EX LIBRIS | William Farrell Smith || Title-page: FRANÇOIS MARIE AROUET DE VOLTAIRE | Candide | OR | OPTIMISM | — | Translated from the French by Richard Aldington | With an Introduction by Paul Morand | and twenty illustrations in colour | by Sylvain Sauvage | — | LONDON 1939 | The Nonesuch Press || Pagination: [i-vi] (h.t., frontis., t.p.) vii-xix [xx] [1-2] 3-147 [148], ils. within colation, total 168 pages. Colophon: "This edition of Candide has been composed in Monotype Cochin at the Fanfare Press London to the design of Francis Meynell. It was printed by the Imprimerie Prolat Frères at Mâcon in France on paper especially made at the Rives mills, and the illustrations by Sylvain Sauvage were reproduced by G. Duval and the Imprimerie Beaufumé in Paris". Illustrations: 10 full-page plates and 10 in-text stencil-coloured collotype reproductions by Georges Duval after drawings by Sylvain Sauvage. Contributors: François-Marie Arouet [Voltaire] (French, 1694 – 1778) – author. Richard Aldington (British, 1892 – 1962) – translator. Paul Morand (French, 1888 – 1976) – author (introduction). Sylvain Sauvage [Félix Roy] (French, 1888 – 1948) – artist. Fanfare Press (London) – printer. Francis Meynell (British, 1891 – 1975) – book designer. Imprimerie Protat Frères (Mâcon) – printer. Imprimerie Beaufumé (Paris) – printer (ils.) Georges Duval (active mid-20th century) – printer (ils.) Nonesuch Press – publisher. Provenance: William Farrell Smith (American, 1932 – 2009)
  • Title: GEORGE CRUIKSHANK'S | TABLE-BOOK. | EDITED BY | GILBERT ABBOTT À BECKETT. | ILLUSTRATED BY GEORGE CRUIKSHANK. | LONDON : | PUBLISHED AT THE PUNCH OFFICE, 92, FLEET STREET ; | AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS. | MDCCCXLV.|| Pagination: ffl [2 blanks] [i, ii - engaved t.p. w/guard, verso blank] [iii], iv - letterpress t.p., colophon] [v], vi - list of engravings on still and on wood, [vii] viii - contents [2 - blank, engraved frontispiece] [1] 2-284 [2 blanks] bfl; 12 full-page steel etchings and 116 woodcuts and glyphographs by G. Cruikshank. Binding: Hardcover, 4to, 24.4 x 17 cm, later full red morocco by Kelly and Sons with gilt and embossed designs to covers, designs, title and year lettering to spine, facsimile in gilt of Cruikshank's signature to front cover, gilt line to inner edges, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers. Armorial bookplate of Harold A. Wernher of Luton Hoo to front pastedown. Major-General Sir Harold Augustus Wernher (1893 – 1973) – British military officer. Originally bound in red cloth, this binding by Kelly and Sons (Packer, Maurice. Bookbinders of Victorian London. — London: British Library, 1991 page 84). Title without the bottom section with lettering, on top lacking the 'Price one shilling', № 1, Vol. 1. inscriptions. Catalogue raisonné: A. M. Cohn № 191, p. 66-67.  
  • Title page: DIALOGUE AUX ENFERS | ENTRE | MACHIAVEL | ET MONTESQUIEU | OU LA POLITIQUE DE MACHIAVEL | AU XIXe SIÈCLE, | PAR UN CONTEMPORAIN. | {6 lines of citations} | ~ | BRUXELLES, | IMPRIMERIE DE A. MERTENS ET FILS, | RUE DE L’ESCALIER, 22. | 1864 ||

    Description: 18.5 x 12 cm, quarter red morocco over marbled boards, spine with raised bands ruled blind, gilt lettering, marbled endpapers.

    Collation: 12mo; fep, 3 blanks, π4 1-2712, 292, 3 blanks, fep.; total 180 leaves. Pagination: [6] [2 h.t] [2 t.p.] [i] ii-iii [iv] [1] 2-337 [338] [2 errata] [6]. Bookplate to front pastedown: “Le Mis de Biencourt” (probably Mademoiselle Anna Charles de Biencourt). See other copies: LIB-2913.2021 and LIB-0460.2015. Other related objects: SVVP-0062.2021. The publication was funded by the author and smuggled into France. Contributors: Maurice Joly (French, 1829 – 1878)  
  • Description: Pictorial wrappers, black and grey with black and red lettering, blurb on the back. Title-page: Власть и право | МОРИС ЖОЛИ | Разговор | в аду | между | МАКИАВЕЛЛИ | и МОНТЕСКЬЕ | Санкт-Петербург | 2004 ||, front wrapper: same but without place and year. Pagination: [1-3] 4-231 [8 blank] [1 colophon], total 120 leaves. See original edition: LIB-1034.2016LIB-2913.2021 and LIB-0460.2015. Other related objects: SVVP-0062.2021. This translation is made out of the German translation of the French original. The name of the translator is unknown. Contributors: Maurice Joly (French, 1829 – 1878)  
  • Title: GEORGE CRUIKSHANK'S | OMNIBUS. | ILLUSTRATED WITH ONE HUNDRED ENGRAVINGS ON STEEL | AND WOOD. | "De omnibus rebus et quibusdam aliis." | EDITED BY LAMAN BLANCHARD, ESQ. | LONDON : | TILT AND BOGUE, FLEET STREET. | MDCCCXLII. Pagination: ffl, [2] – blanks [i, ii] – blank / engraved t.p. w/guard, [iii, iv] – t.p., colophon] [v], vi – contents, [vii, viii] – h.t. / blank, [ix] – list of etchings on steel, [x] – list of wood-cuts, [2] – blank, frontis. engraves portrait of G. Cruikshank; [1] 2-300 [2] – blanks, bfl; 22 full-page steel engravings (three not by Cruikshank) and 78 woodcuts. As per A. M. Cohn: i-ii+i-viii+1-2+1-300. Binding: 24 x 14 cm, later full red morocco by Kelly and Sons with gilt and embossed designs to covers, designs, title and year lettering to spine, facsimile in gilt of Cruikshank's signature to front cover, gilt line to inner edges, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers. Armorial bookplate of Harold A. Wernher of Luton Hoo to front pastedown. Major-General Sir Harold Augustus Wernher (1893 – 1973) – British military officer. Originally bound in green, then red cloth, this binding by Kelly and Sons (Packer, Maurice. Bookbinders of Victorian London. London: British Library, 1991 page 84). A. M. Cohn № 190, p. 65-66. Motto translation: (About all things and something more besides).
  • Hand-coloured etching by an anonymous artist, printed in July 1815. Description by British Museum (1866,0407.935): "Blücher (left) and Napoleon (right) support a heavy pier-glass in an upright position. Its solid base rests on the back of the prostrate Napoleon, from whose mouth issues a label: 'Si je pouvais encore me sauver! . . . mais non c'est fini Nicolas est pris.' The mirror, which towers above the head of its supporters, is framed by pillars, each surmounted by a fleur-de-lis. These also decorate the heavy superstructure which supports a trophy of two oval shields with the arms of Bourbon and Navarre, surmounted by a crown..., and four white flags. On the face of the mirror is a large Bourbon crown, and a lily plant. Blücher says: "Le Diable m'emporte s'il en réchappe." Wellington responds: "Pour cette fois nous en répondons." Inscription under the plate: 'Se vend chez Genty, rue St Jacques no.14' and 'Déposé au Bureau des Estampes'. Size: 33.2 x 25.7 cm
  • Description: One volume bound in green morocco, sunned spine with raised bands and gilt lettering, collated 8vo, 28.3 x 23 cm, original wrappers and spine preserved, top margin gilt; numerous in-text woodcuts, 30 full-page plates and one plate tipped-in. Front wrapper (red and black): RABELAIS | GARGANTUA | LITHOGRAPHIES DE SCHEM | {publisher’s device lettered in red “ÉDITIONS DU MANOIR”} | HENRI PASQUINELLY | DIJON || Half-title: LA VIE TRESHORRIFIQUE | DU | GRAND GARGANTUA | PERE DE PANTAGRUEL | JADIS COMPOSÉE | PAR MAISTRE ALCOFRIBAS | ABSTRACTEUR DE QUINTE ESSENCE | — | LIVRE PLEIN DE PANTAGRUELISME || Title-page (red and black): RABELAIS | GARGANTUA | LITHOGRAPHIES DE SCHEM | AVEC UNE PRÉFACE ET DES RÉSUMÉS EXPLICATIFS PAR | PIERRE HUGUENIN | UN GLOSSAIRE ET DES NOTES DE | LOUIS PERCEAU | {publisher’s device lettered in red “ÉDITIONS DU MANOIR”} | HENRI PASQUINELLY | DIJON || Collation: 2 blanks, front wrapper, [1] 2-118, spine, back wrapper, 2 blanks, total 88 leaves between the wrappers plus 30 plates incl. frontispiece, two of which are double-page, extraneous to collation with lettered tissue guards, and one cancelled plate with lettered tissue guard tipped-in. Pagination: [1-7] 8-171 [172] [2 colophon] [2 blank], total 176 pages, ils. Printed on February 20, 1937, at Imprimerie Darantière (Dijon), lithographs were printed by Desjobert (Paris). Limitation: The print run of 3,335 copies, of which 10 (№ I-X) on Japon Impérial, 300 copies (№ 1-300) on Vélin de Rives, 3000 copies (№ 301-3,300) on Bouffant Dauphinois, and 25 copies (A-Z ) on Vélin de Rives for collaborators. This is copy № 45 on Vélin de Rives, enriched with one cancelled plate (see image below).

    Ce petit paillard tousjours tastonnoyt ses gouvernantes cen dessus dessous, cen devant darriere.

      Collaborators: François Rabelais [Alcofribas Nasier] (French, c. 1494 – 1553) – author. Pierre Huguenin (French, 1874 – 1937) – author. Louis Perceau (French, 1883 – 1942) – author. Raoul Serres [Schem] (French, 1881– 1971) – artist. Éditions du manoir; Henri Pasquinelly [Pasquinelli] (French, 20th century) – publisher. Imprimerie Darantière (Dijon) – printer. Edmond Desjobert (French, 1888 – 1963); Edmond et Jacques Desjobert – lithography printer.