Omnium Gatherum
London: Charles Tilt, 1840. Item #04750
Fourteen Humorous Hand-Colored Engraved Plates
'A Fine Collection of Miscellaneous People or Things'
HEATH, H[enry]. Omnium Gatherum. [Together with:] Omnium-Gatherum. Second Series. [London: Published by Charles Tilt, n.d., ca. 1840].
Later issue, on thick paper (first published 1831-1834). Oblong folio (10 1/16 x 13 3/4 inches; 256 x 350 mm.). Pictorial hand-colored engraved title page and thirteen numbered hand-colored engraved plates, containing 247 vignettes.
Late nineteenth century three-quarter red morocco over red cloth boards ruled in gilt by L. Broca (stamp-signed on front free endpaper). Front cover lettered in gilt, spine with two raised bands, lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Expertly and almost invisibly rebacked with original spine laid down. A near fine copy.
Omnium Gatherum (A collection of miscellaneous people or things).
"Henry Heath (fl. 1822–1842), caricaturist, is a shadowy figure. Because of a similarity in style between William and Henry Heath and their collaboration on three prints, it has been suggested that they were related, even as brothers (George, Catalogue, 9.liv). Henry Heath etched theatrical portraits from 1822 and both social and political caricatures from 1824, his work being published by Fores and Gans. In 1831 he started to imitate the political caricatures of HB, changing from etching to lithography and adopting the monogram HH. About this time various sets of his comic vignettes in the manner of George Cruikshank were issued and were collected in 1840 under the title of The Caricaturist's Sketch Book; in the 1830s he also drew cockney sportsmen, following the example of Robert Seymour. One cartoon by him was published in Punch in 1842. In the same year he drew some amusing caricatures of Queen Victoria's visit to Scotland, after which, according to M. H. Spielmann (The History of Punch, 1895, 452), he emigrated to Australia. Dorothy George called him ‘a competent and versatile but very imitative caricaturist’ (George, Catalogue, 10.xliv)" (Oxford Online DNB).
BM. 2013,7069.10.
Price: $3,500.00