Estampes

1809 · Best.-Nr. Flo541 — Very good copy of the first edition of this classic of equestrian humour With 26 of 29 handcoloured copperplate engravings by Thomas Rowlandson after illustrations by George Moutard Woodward and Henry Bunbury unsigned The illustrations show Regency gents falling off horses ladies falling off horses gamblers pursued by officers of the debtors' prisons raggedy dogs yokel fashions and furniture famous beauties etc. The 26 plates include: portrait of Caleb Quizem Esq. title page vignette with courtier falling from Pegasus The Maid of Mim; Costume of Hogs Norton: Morning dress; Game Wigs 2 plates; Hounds 2 plates; Mathematical Horsemanship 6 plates; The True Method of Sitting on a Horse Mathematically Delineated; How to Vault from the Saddle; Fashionable Furniture at Hogs Norton 2 plates; and The Bailiffs Hunt 8 plates. Lacks the folding plate The Bucephalus Riding Academy for Grown Gentlemen and two other plates Costume of Hogs Norton: A Back Front View of Miss Dickinson's new Dress and How a Man may Shoot his own Wig. George Murgatroyd Woodward 1765–1809 more commonly known as George "Moutard" or "Mustard" Woodward was an English caricaturist and humourist. He was a friend collaborator and drinking companion of Thomas Rowlandson who engraved many of his prints. Thomas Rowlandson 1757-1827 was an English artist and caricaturist of the Georgian and Regency eras noted for his ribald satire and social observation. A prolific artist and printmaker his most famous works include The Miseries of Human Life 1808 The Tours of Dr. Syntax 1812-21 Microcosm of London 1810 The English Dance of Death 1815 Military Adventures of Johnny Newcome 1815 History of Johnny Quae Genus 1822 The English Spy 1826 etc. The pseudonym Caleb Quizem is often attributed to the artist George Moutard Woodward. The portrait however links the author to Geoffrey Gambado i.e. Francis Grose. In the picture a corpulent man sits in an armchair looking at the viewer through a monocle. Two books Gambado's Annals of Horsemanship a popular book attributed to Grose reissued with Rowlandson's engravings in 1809 and Laurence Sterne's Tristam Shandy are on the table next to him and a portrait of Gambado with gouty foot and crutch hangs on the wall. Quite scarce copies held by the British Library and Oxford University. Bound in full red morocco leather spine with five raised bands gilt title and decoration to compartments front board with 2cm scratch to leather TEG marbled endpapers book block solid. Interior clean and bright all copperplates under tissue guards with vivid handcolour. Engraved armorial bookplate of Herman Le Roy Edgar a New York real-estate broker amateur photographer and book collector 1865-1938. Very good copy of this rare classic of horsey fun. Thomas Tegg hardcover