Estampes

rif. 001420 — London: Dean and Son. First edition presumed. Paper on boards. Fair. N.d. circa 1850s. Folio 13.5 by 10 inches. Not paginated 33 leaves including title page with printing on only one side per leaf. Wonderful hand-colored illustrations by unnamed artists but many with the qualiy of Tenniel. Some form part of a loose story narrative and others are part of a looser verse bond. Particularly appealing are the feline illustrations which come in several places most notably part of "The Cat Party". The leaves do not appear to have been bound in a proper order as this particular narrative moves in reverse. It is all somewhat chaotic yet charmingly so. Also a stand-out is the imagery of the "London Toy Warehouse". While some of the animal imagery is straightforward and pedestrian this is more than dominated by that which is humorous unexpected and inspired. The book was surely intended both to instruct and amuse and it is this twin objective that underlies its dual tone. The boards which are covered by illustrated paper pasted on are soiled and chewed up in the corners and the edges are rough. There are a fair number of closed tears inside near the front that were less than deftly repaired with tape some of which remains. Some soilage throughout. Still most of the imagery remains bright and appealing. Dean and Son unknown books