Doctor Syntax; Combe, WilliamBiblio.com
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1820ref. 016815J. Johnston London 1820. Edition Unstated . Hardcover. Good Condition/No Dust Jacket. Size: 9 1/4" x 6 1/8". Text body is clean and free from previous owner annotation underlining and highlighting. Rebacked with original spine leather over top of new spine gilt decoration and lettering on spine marbled end papers 319 pages illustrated with 20 hand-colored plates including title page by Thomas Rowlandson or I. R. Cruikshank. Covers worn scattered light staining bit of a musty smell. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: 2 lbs 14 oz. Category: Antiquarian & Rare; Pictures of this item not already displayed here available upon request. Inventory No: 016815. . J. Johnston hardcover
1891ref. PHO-2232Beyrouth, Imprimerie catholique, 1891-1892, 2 forts volumes in-8, IV-587 et [4]-659 pp., demi chagrin fauve, auteur, titre et tomaison au dos, couverture conservée au 2nd volume, manque la page de titre du 1er volume, frottements au dos.
1820ref. 1820498Published by J. Johnston 1820. 1st edition. Hardback. Good. Good condition with no wrapper. A poem. Leather spine & corners marbled paper boards. Gilt title and tooling decorations to spine. Marbled text block. 19 hand-coloured plates plus title page. Boards rubbed and worn at edges. Marbling to text block fading. Front hinge cracked. Contents grubby. All plates are present nice and bright but margins browned. Published by J. Johnston hardcover
1828ref. 6436London: R. Ackermann 1828. Fourth edition. Published in 1828 1828 & 1823 all stated as fourth editions despite the last "Tour" published in 1823. The pious henpecked clergyman was created by William Combe to accompany the wonderful colored comic illustrations by the caricaturist Thomas Rowlandson. His adventures are told in eight-syllabled verse in "The Three Tours of Dr. Syntax" 1812 1820 and 1821. These were parodies of the popular books of picturesque travels of the day particularly those of William Gilpin 1724-1804. Sml. 8vo each volume approximately 280pp each with frontispiece and plates 29 in Vol I; 23 each in Vols II & III a total of 75 magnificent colored aquatint engravings. Bound in early half black calf and marbled boards gilt title on spines. Slt. rubbed at extremes a very nice copy the plates very crisp; 2 in 1st volume with short tear at foredge. Tooley Color Plate Books 430 who adds "fresh plates were re-engraved for this edition one-third the size of the originals." ; Abbey Life 265. R. Ackermann hardcover
1820ref. 93730London: Johnston 1820. First Edition. hardcover. very good. A poem. 18 color plates color frontispiece and title-page vignette. 319pp. 8vo 3/4 contemporary calf; rubbed edges worn front hinge starting a few pages separated. London: J. Johnston 1820. Very good. A satire of William S. Combe's "The Tour of Dr. Syntax In Search of the Picturesque." Both Rowlandson and I.R. Cruikshank are credited with the designs for the plates the balance of opinion favouring Cruikshank but according to the advertisement.more than one artist was employed or at least a different engraver to the artist." Tooley 434. Lowndes III p.2564; Brunet V p.615. Johnston unknown books
1820ref. 93730London: Johnston 1820. First Edition. hardcover. very good. A poem. 18 color plates color frontispiece and title-page vignette. 319pp. 8vo 3/4 contemporary calf; rubbed edges worn front hinge starting a few pages separated. London: J. Johnston 1820. Very good. A satire of William S. Combe's "The Tour of Dr. Syntax In Search of the Picturesque." Both Rowlandson and I.R. Cruikshank are credited with the designs for the plates the balance of opinion favouring Cruikshank but according to the advertisement.more than one artist was employed or at least a different engraver to the artist." Tooley 434. Lowndes III p.2564; Brunet V p.615. Johnston unknown
1815ref. 5174London United Kingdom: B. Blake 1815. hardcover. Very Good. Thomas Rowlandson Style of. The Adventures of Doctor Comicus or The Frolicks of Fortune A Modern Syntax — First Edition Publication: London B. Blake 1815 Formatting: 8vo pp. ii 269 i. Condition Report: Very Good. The binding is a handsome likely later full panelled calf with blind-tooled borders and corner fleurons featuring a contrasting central panel and a red morocco title label to a raised spine. The binding is tight and secure showing only minor superficial shelf-wear. The interior features attractive marbled endpapers and untrimmed page edges. The text block is generally clean though some light spotting age-toning and offsetting can be expected given the period. Notably this copy contains the hand-coloured aquatint frontispiece the extra engraved title page and twelve hand-coloured plates lacking plate 10 'Shaving the Doctor'. Overall a highly attractive robustly bound copy of this scarce parody presenting exceedingly well on the shelf despite the single missing plate. Catalogue Note: This is the first edition of The Adventures of Doctor Comicus one of the earliest and most successful parodies of William Combe's immensely popular Doctor Syntax tours. Written under the pseudonym "A Modern Syntax" the work consciously mirrored the episodic mock-heroic verse of Combe's originals to capitalize on the public's appetite for the genre. The spirited hand-coloured aquatints often attributed to Thomas Illman or imitating the style of Thomas Rowlandson are an essential feature of the satire capturing the exaggerated follies of Regency life. This copy includes the extra engraved title page and frontispiece alongside twelve coloured plates. Bibliographically identified via Abbey Life 255 and Tooley 431 early printings of this imitation are increasingly scarce on the open market particularly when housed in such a distinguished panelled calf binding. The Adventures of Doctor Comicus offers a hilarious satirical romp through Regency England following the misadventures of a haplessly ambitious country doctor. Penned as a direct spoof of the famous Doctor Syntax series this comic poem chronicles the doctor's quest for a wealthy wife and an escape from his mundane village life. Filled with riotous hand-coloured aquatint illustrations it is a delightful piece of 19th-century comic heritage that sharply skewers the social pretensions and eccentricities of the era. B. Blake hardcover
1823ref. BS2GLTRD30FLondon: R. Ackermann 1823. Hardbacks full blind-stamped calf gilt decorative borders to boards. Gilt titles to spine labels. Marbled edges and end-papers. 3 volume set. Each vol 14cm x 9cm. Vol. 1 - 276pp frontis title vignette and 30 plates; Vol. 2 - 277pp frontis and 23 plates; Vol. 3 - 279pp frontis title vignette 24 plates and illustration to page 279. 3rd edition 1823. Volume 2 is lacking one spine label. Bindings a little rubbed. A rather pleasing set. A heavy set additional postage may be required for orders outside the UK. bs2. 3rd Edition. Hard Cover. Good . R. Ackermann Hardcover
1888ref. PHO-2060Beyrouth, Imprimerie des Belles-Lettres, 1888, in-8° (245x165mm), xx-353pp., demi chagrin et coin (moderne), couverture conservée, défaut à la couverture, 5 premiers feuillets renforcés en marge
1880ref. 416084Berlin, Wilhelm Hertz (Bessersche Buchhandlung), 1880. 23,5 x 15 cm. Halbpergamentband der Zeit mit Pergamentecken und goldgeprägtem Titel auf rotem Rückenschild. Das Pergament ist angestaubt. Der Vorderdeckel weist, auch auf der Innenseite, eine Knickspur über die ganze Länge auf. Handschriftlicher Namenszug auf dem fliegenden Blatt. Eingebunden ein schönes kalligraphisches Titelblatt mit Zeichnung auf stärkerem Papier, 6 Bll. Titel, Einleitung, Vorwort und Inhaltsverzeichnis, CXXVI Seiten Einleitung, 506 Seiten. Im seitlichen Randbereich nicht beschnitten. Einige Seiten sind etwas fingerfleckig. Andere weisen (Tinten-) Flecken auf. Durchgehend mit zum Teil recht ausführlichen Bleistiftnotizen eines Sprachwissenschaftlers überwiegend im Randbereich. Collationiertes, durchaus gut erhaltenes Exemplar, siehe auch Anmerkung.
1651ref. 21477Amstelodami Joannem Ravesteynium 1651 in-12 plein vélin 3 tomes en un volume, reliure janséniste plein vélin ivoire parcheminé in-douze (binding full vellum in-12) (15,7 x 10,2 cm), dos long (spine without raised bands) titre à l'encre brune façon janséniste, toutes tranches lisses (edges smoothes), titre imprimé en rouge et noir, texte à manchettes en Latin, sans illustrations (no illustration) excepté une vignette gravée sur bois en noir en bas de la page de titre + orné de bandeaux, lettrines (and illuminated of headpieces and dropped initials) + un trés beau de culs-de-lampe représentant "un ours" gravés sur bois en noir, [(10) +176] pages, 1651 Amstelædami : sumptibus Joannis Ravesteynii, bibliop. ad Aquas, ad signum Libri chartacei, Editeur, + LATINA SYNTAXIS: texte à manchettes en Latin, sans illustrations (no illustration) excepté une vignette gravée sur bois en noir en bas de la page de titre représentant le prophète ELIE ravitaillé par les corbeaux + orné de bandeaux, lettrines (and illuminated of headpieces and dropped initials), 110 pages, 1651 Amstelodami :apud Joannem Ravesteynium, Editeur, + LATINA PROSODIA, texte à manchettes en Latin, sans illustrations (no illustration) excepté une vignette gravée sur bois en noir en bas de la page de titre :Marque de l'Editeur en taille-douce au titre (taille de la vigne ; devise : "non odit tamen"), pagination commune avec LATINA SYNTAXIS, [de la page 111 à la page 177 + (4) p. d'errata] pages, 1651 Amstelodami :apud Joannem Ravesteynium, Editeur,
1820ref. 272395London: Johnston 1820. hardcover. near fine. Rowlandson & Cruikshank. 20 color plates including the frontispiece and title-page vignette. 319 pages. 8vo original boards rubbed; housed in a burgundy cloth clam shall box. London: J. Johnston 1820. Third Edition. A near fine copy. A satire of William S. Combe's "The Tour of Dr. Syntax In Search of the Picturesque." Both Rowlandson and I.R. Cruikshank are credited with the designs for the plates the balance of opinion favouring Cruikshank but according to the advertisement. more than one artist was employed or at least a different engraver to the artist." Tooley 434. Lowndes III p.2564; Brunet V p.615. Johnston unknown books
1820ref. 272395London: Johnston 1820. hardcover. near fine. Rowlandson & Cruikshank. 20 color plates including the frontispiece and title-page vignette. 319 pages. 8vo original boards rubbed; housed in a burgundy cloth clam shall box. London: J. Johnston 1820. Third Edition. A near fine copy. A satire of William S. Combe's "The Tour of Dr. Syntax In Search of the Picturesque." Both Rowlandson and I.R. Cruikshank are credited with the designs for the plates the balance of opinion favouring Cruikshank but according to the advertisement. more than one artist was employed or at least a different engraver to the artist." Tooley 434. Lowndes III p.2564; Brunet V p.615. Johnston unknown
1825ref. 1648This First Edition copy of The Adventures of Doctor Comicus or The Frolicks of Fortune - A Comic Satirical Poem for the Squeamish & The Queen in Twelve Cantos by a Modern Syntax was published in London by Jaques & Wright of Paternaster Row and printed by J. McGowan and Son for B. Blake of No. 15 Bell Yard Temple Bar. The date of publication is uncertain but believed to be between 1815 and 1828. The word Frolicks in the title page is often spelled Frolics elsewhere. The author and illustrator are both unknown. Since this book is accepted as the first of many imitations of the William Combe and Thomas Rowlandson's Dr. Syntax trilogy these gentlemen are often identified as this book's author and illustrator. That supposition is unproven but it is clear that the book's declaration of A Modern Syntax as the author is a play on words on the Dr. Syntax of the earlier published William Combe's works. The book which measures approximately 5 ½ inches wide by 8 ¾ inches tall by 7/8 inch thick contains 269 numbered pages of text plus 15 colored engraved plates including a frontispiece and extra-title page and thirteen additional colored plates distributed throughout the book. The book is hard bound in full calf covered boards with gilt printing and decoration on the spine. The pages of the book are very lightly tanned and are gilt-edged. The cover has some minor signs of wear particularly at the outer corners and the top and bottom of the spine. The overall condition of the book is very good. The illustrations accompanying this description show the Title page the book's covers a 2-page spread containing the Frontispiece and Extra-Title page and two 2-page spreads of text and colored plates. Jaques & Wright hardcover
1815ref. Flo551Good copy only of the first edition of Cruikshank's corruscating attack on Napoleon Complete with all 30 aquatints by a young George Cruikshank Hand-coloured engraved title-page and 29 hand-colored aquatint plates several bound out of order With text pages mis-numbered 107 for 109 211 for 121 and 186 for 187 and errors in the plates "Seige" "Liepsic" and "Seigning" indicating an early issue of the first edition. The Life of Napoleon was originally issued in fifteen weekly parts from November 1814 to February 1815 is a mock-epic poem depicting events from the life of Napoleon Bonaparte portraying the French emperor's military actions in a largely negative light. It was supposed to be a celebration of the exile of the tyrant from the world stage and concludes with his arrival on the remote island of Elba. Little did the artist know however that just months later Boney would return to raise an army to challenge the European powers once again only to be finally crushed at Waterloo in June 1815. The vignettes in the illustrated title page show Boney leaving the island of his birth climbing to power over a guillotine sitting astride the world as Emperor before sliding down a lightning bolt to sit on a toadstool on the island of Elba. The other engravings follow Napoleon's progress from his time at military college to his abdication in 1814 and focus on the massacres murders war crimes invasions and atrocities of the Napoleonic era. George Cruikshank 1792-1878 was an English caricaturist and book illustrator son of the Scottish artist Isaac Cruikshank. He became famous for his political cartoons and illustrated the Life of Napoleon when he was just 22 years old. He later illustrated The Humourist 1819 Pierce Egan's rambunctious and drunken Life in London 1821 and was a long-time illustator for The Comic Almanack 1835-1853. He illustrated several Charles Dickens' titles such as Sketches by Boz 1836 Mudfog Papers 1837 Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi 1838 and Oliver Twist 1838. In attributing the poem to "Dr. Syntax" the publisher attempts to credit William Combe author of many popular books illustrated by Thomas Rowlandson. "Until Henry Richard Tedder wrote in Dictionary of National Biography that the Life of Napoleon had been 'wrongfully ascribed' the author was generally supposed to be William Combe who wrote The Tour of Dr Syntax in Search of the Picturesque." Wilfrid Hugh Chesson's George Cruikshank 1908 It appears to be another anonymous hack in the Tegg stable. In late 19th-century French-style binding with black leather spine gilt title and decorative tooling marble boards rubbed marble endpapers book block solid. Interior with offsetting from the plates to the text general grubbiness and thumbprints to text and plates all engraved aquatint plates slightly toned but with rich handcolour. Illegible scribble in ink on front endpaper but dated "Paris Sept. & Nov. 1890" Thomas Tegg hardcover
1817ref. 850London: T. Tegg 1817. First Edition Second Printing. Very good . George Cruikshank. 8vo 8 5/8 x 4 3/4 in. 220 x 140 mm title 260 pp. 30 full-page one-sided sepia aquatints by George Criukshank. 3/4 bound in red calf with red canvas covered boards marbled endpapers 5 raised bands gilt decorations in compartments and gilt title on black calf label t.e.g. 1-inch tear to top of first page not affecting the text internally lightly browned with scattered foxing and offset to pages near plates conners pumped and hinges a little rubbed but binding square and tight; penciled notes on flyleaves and last page. With these pages misnumbered: 107 for 109 penciled-in correction and 453 for 253. Armorial bookplate of Richard Holmden. Tooley 151; Cohn 153; Rosenbach Cruikshank/Widener p. 38. By 1815 Napoleon was a figure of mockery in England. This vicious satire of Bonaparte 1769-1821 makes its intentions clear with the allegorical title page which shows the young Corsican as a revolutionary firebrand in a Phrygian cap ascending a ladder whose rungs are Plunder Bloodshed and Murder the last being the blade of a guillotine. At the top he sits in ermine astride the globe before being cast off scattering his treasure as he goes to end huddled in exile. The last plate bound in as a frontispiece on some copies shows Napoleon landing in Elba and being met by incredulous locals. The poems itself pairs with the exquisite caricatures by George Cruikshank 1792 - 1878 to strike a whimsical tone. T. Tegg unknown
1815ref. 005471London: T. Tegg. Plummer and Brewis printer 1815. First Edition. Full Morocco. Very Good. 8vo. 24 by 15 cm. 260 pp. With 30 hand-colored engravings by George Cruikshank. The copy has all first edition points cited by Tooley 151. Bound very handsomely by Worsfold with gilt crown "N" and beetle devices on boards and spine dentelles bordering within gilt edges. Joints repaired. Offsetting of plates. Pages have age toning. Occasional soil marks and a few very minor chips or tiny closed tears. Otherwise a clean and tight copy. T. Tegg. Plummer and Brewis, printer unknown books
ref. 501664London: Ackermann Book. Very Good Book condition. Half-Leather. Third Edition. 4to. Circa 1821. A gorgeous set with numerous hand-coloured engravings; hand-marbled boards; brown leather spines and corners; and gilt decorations to spines. Bindings appear to be contemporary. Text blocks are third editions as indicated on the title-page but with additional eighth edition title-page illustrated bound-in. All 3 volumes in very good condition. Light scuffing to leather. Our rating system: 1. Fine; 2. Near Fine; 3. Very Good; 4. Good; 5. Fair. Ackermann Hardcover
1815ref. 005471London: T. Tegg. Plummer and Brewis printer 1815. First Edition. Full Morocco. Very Good. 8vo. 24 by 15 cm. 260 pp. With 30 hand-colored engravings by George Cruikshank. The copy has all first edition points cited by Tooley 151. Bound very handsomely by Worsfold with gilt crown "N" and beetle devices on boards and spine dentelles bordering within gilt edges. Joints repaired. Offsetting of plates. Pages have age toning. Occasional soil marks and a few very minor chips or tiny closed tears. Otherwise a clean and tight copy. T. Tegg. Plummer and Brewis, printer unknown
1815ref. 84510Edinburgh: T. Tegg III 1815. Half Leather. Very Good with no dust jacket. Illustrated by G. Cruikshank. 260 pages. 29 plates plus colorfully illustrated title page making up the 30 as printed on the title page. half leather with marbled paper over boards. raised bands with nice leather title leather label. shows very slight handling. A really nice copy. shipping will be extra please inquire. very slight foxing to some pages. ; 6 1/8 x 9 1/4 T. Tegg III unknown
1621ref. 1162551621 Lutetiae. Ex officina & Typis Gulielmi Lebe - CI . I C. XXI (1621) - In-12, demi-basane brune (reliure postérieure), faux-nerfs, filets et titre en doré au dos - 247 pp. - Ouvrage en latin
ref. 114072London W. T. Gilling 1821. . Second edition with letter by the Duke of Wellington tipped in; 4to 30 x 25 cm; 6 hand-coloured aquatint plates armorial bookplate to front pastedown clean and tight internally; later full red morocco by Bayntuns preserved in cloth slip-case boards gilt spine lettered in gilt in six compartments boards edges gilt rolled all edges gilt turn-ins panelled in gilt a touch of rubbing to spine otherwise a fine copy; 175 pp. A finely bound copy of this poem which includes a signed letter by the Duke of Wellington 1769-1852 to MP John Capel 1767-1846 discussing business in London with the franked envelope. William Combe 1742-1823 was a notorious hack and often ridiculed those in high power such as Lord Lyttelton. The 6 plates are different to that called for in the Abbey copy but all still taken from the first edition. Abbey Life 358; Tooley 153. London, W. T. Gilling, 1821. hardcover
