Item #02606 Studies From the Stage. William HEATH.
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage
Studies From the Stage

Studies From the Stage

London: W. Sams, 1823. Item #02606

The Rare First Edition

HEATH, William. Studies From the Stage, or the Vicissitudes of Life. London: W. Sams, 1823.

First edition. Oblong folio (9 7/8 x 14 in; 250 x 354 mm). Engraved title (plain) and over 100 hand-colored illustrations on twenty etched plates, watermarked 1822, with interleaves. Plates 4, 10, 11, 14 and 18 signed, "Drawn & etched by W. Heath"; imprint, "Published by W. Sams Royal Library 1 St. James's St"; dated variously from May through July 1823.

Bound by Rivière & Son in half midnight blue morocco over blue cloth. Gilt-ruled and lettered title label. Gilt lettering to spine with gilt ornaments at head and tail. Top edge gilt. Occasional mild spotting and soiling. Upper joint near invisibly restored. A fine copy.

Only eight copies in institutional holdings worldwide. Rarely seen in commerce, the last copy to come to auction was in 2006.

This lavishly engraved, hand-colored book of caricature by William Heath shows a wide variety of contemporary English "types" depicted with great humor, including: "Grub Street Opera"; "Actress of all Work"; "All for Love"; "Maid of the Mill"; "The Devil to Pay"; "Three Weeks after Marriage"; etc.

Watercolourist and caricaturist William Heath (1795-1840)…worked mostly under the pseudonym of Paul Pry. He called himself 'Portrait and Military painter' and was reputed to be an 'ex-captain of dragoons' but is not recorded in the Army List. Heath began life as a draughtsman and his main claim to fame rests on his having produced the first caricature magazine in Europe, The Glasgow later Northern Looking-Glass, 1825-1826. Although this was a provincial work and without much text, it does pre-date Charles Philipon's similar publication. The height of his popularity fell between the years 1809-34, after which his humour was displaced by that of Robert Seymour and John Doyle" (Houfe, p. 338).

Abbey, Life 415.

Price: $4,250.00