The Comic History of Rome
London: Bradbury, Agnew & Co, 1852. Octavo. Item #028146
hand-colored frotispiece, and nine other hand colored plates, pictorial title page in red and black, xii, 308 pages. In the middle of the 19th century, there was a taste for humor with issues of Punch and in books by Lewis Carroll and Gilbert A Beckett which often had symbolical or allegorical overtones. The puns in this volume often bring a hidden delight along with the ten etched engravings by John Leech all of which are handcolored. Cicero Denouncing Cataline is issued as a frontispience instead of at the end of the book. Bound in 3/4 red polished calf over marbled paper covered boards, with matching endpapers, all edges marbled, raised bands with lettering gilt and compartments fully gilt decorated, edges rubbed. A clean bright copy without foxing, names or bookplates.
Price: $275.00