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A Selection of Humorous Engravings, Caricatures &c. by Various Artists
A Scarce And Superlative Collection of Scarce Prints By William Heath
Vivid Satire, Vividly Colored
[HEATH, William, R. Seymour, R. Cruikshank, M. Egerton, et al]. A Selection of Humorous Engravings, Caricatures &c. by Various Artists, Selected and Arranged by Thomas McLean. London: Thomas McLean, n.d. [1827-29].
Folio (19 1/4 x 14 in; 488 x353 mm). Engraved title page, and fifty-nine hand-colored engraved plates each window-pane mounted on heavy stock. Fifty-one are by William Heath; three are by Robert Seymour (two of which are signed "Shortshanks"); one by Michael Egerton (M.E.); one by Robert Cruikshank; and three are unsigned.
Contemporary half maroon morocco over cloth with gilt-lettered spine. Bookplates of Sir Charles Nall-Cain, 1st Baron Brocket (1866-1934), a British businessman and philanthropist. A few early, neat repairs to margins. A magnificent copy of a singular collection of plates, each originally published as individual prints, here compiled by the publisher, and the most vividly colored of any we have ever seen in over forty years.
A spectacular compilation of hand-colored prints issued by the premier English publisher of of political and social satire in caricature, Thomas McLean, with outstanding compositions that lampoon London fashion, society, and characters in a manner that not only rivals Geo. Cruikshank but, in the broad, burlesque exaggeration of the fashion plates, exceeds him, and, significantly, avoids the grotesquery that Cruikshank often wallows in; Heath is entertained by his subjects, Cruikshank often cynical.
Here, McLean has gathered together unsold prints with a specially produced undated and generic title-page. While we cannot warrant it, this appears to be a unique copy, McLean, presumably, using the title-page for ad hoc compilations as the need arose to move merchandise.
William Heath (aka by pseudonym Paul Pry, 1794/51840), caricaturist and illustrator, was born in Northumbria. "Assuming that the particulars in his obituary notice in the Gentleman's Magazine are correct, Heath was only fourteen when his first satirical prints were published in 1809. Although he continued to etch occasional caricatures over the next fifteen years, he was principally occupied in illustrating books, mainly on military themes...When the demand for military prints declined in the 1820s Heath reverted to caricatures, published either as individual prints or as sets, and soon established himself in a leading position. In 18256 Heath was in Scotland, writing and illustrating the first magazine in the world to be given over, predominantly, to caricatures. The Glasgow Looking Glass...When the demand for military prints declined in the 1820s Heath reverted to caricatures, published either as individual prints or as sets, and soon established himself in a leading position.
"Heath returned to London in 1827 and for the next two years was the leading caricaturist, prolific alike in social and political satire. In 1827 he started to sign his prints with a little drawing of the actor Liston in the role of Paul Pry, a character who interfered in other peoples' business in John Poole's eponymous comedy (1825). However the Paul Pry device attracted plagiarists on such a scale that in 1829, having complained on a caricature of a dirty rogue' who was robbing us of our ideas and just profit', he abandoned it. When on 1 January 1830 Thomas McLean, the leading purveyor of comic art, launched a monthly magazine of caricatures, available in plain and hand-coloured versions, called the Looking Glass, he advertised it as having been drawn and etched' by William Heath' for whom he acted as sole Publisher'. Clearly Heath's name was the selling point, yet after seven issues he was replaced by Robert Seymour. Perhaps McLean felt that Seymour's lithographs better expressed the new spirit of delicacy to which he was attuning himself. Or perhaps he had become exasperated by Heath's careless habitsdrink, debts and unpunctuality'...In any event, after 1830 Heath's output of caricatures declined rapidly...The Gentleman's Magazine recorded that on 7 April 1840 William Heath, artist' died at Hampstead, London, aged 45'" (Oxford DNB).
Full list of plates upon request.
Price: $0
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