Miseries of Human Life:Designed and Etched by T. Rowlandson and Published December 1 1808 by R. Ackermann, Repository of Arts, 101 Strand, London.
[n.d., 1808, First Edition, early issue.]
4to, original half morocco, with printed paper title label on front board; 50 etchings, as called for, with wonderfully fresh colour and large margins; plates watermarked 'J Whatman 1804' (1), 'J Whatman 1805 (3, including 'Pall Mall'); 'J Whatman 1806' (3), and 'John Hall 1805' (11). Hinges cracked, front board nearly detached. 'Miseries of Human Life Introductory Dialogue' with stain; 'Miseries of Social Life Dialogue 7' with repaired tear.
An extremely rare early example of the complete series by Thomas Rowlandson, inspired by 'The Miseries of Human Life' by James Beresford (1764-1840), published in 1806. Rowlandson began drawing scenes as soon as the book was published and, after two years, fifty were selected by Ackermann to be published in a new edition. Contents of the book vary widely, with some plates replaced. The iconic scenes and characters from this series, some of which were Rowlandson's own invention while others closely mirror Beresford's text, reappeared frequently under variations of the 'Miseries' title, right up until the artist's death.
Abbey Life 317; ''Plate 40 'Pall Mall' [last plate in this example] is rare, most copies replacing this with 'The Chiropodist''. Grego Vol II, pp. 119-124.
[Ref: 54618] £4,500.00
4to, original half morocco, with printed paper title label on front board; 50 etchings, as called for, with wonderfully fresh colour and large margins; plates watermarked 'J Whatman 1804' (1), 'J Whatman 1805 (3, including 'Pall Mall'); 'J Whatman 1806' (3), and 'John Hall 1805' (11). Hinges cracked, front board nearly detached. 'Miseries of Human Life Introductory Dialogue' with stain; 'Miseries of Social Life Dialogue 7' with repaired tear.
An extremely rare early example of the complete series by Thomas Rowlandson, inspired by 'The Miseries of Human Life' by James Beresford (1764-1840), published in 1806. Rowlandson began drawing scenes as soon as the book was published and, after two years, fifty were selected by Ackermann to be published in a new edition. Contents of the book vary widely, with some plates replaced. The iconic scenes and characters from this series, some of which were Rowlandson's own invention while others closely mirror Beresford's text, reappeared frequently under variations of the 'Miseries' title, right up until the artist's death.
Abbey Life 317; ''Plate 40 'Pall Mall' [last plate in this example] is rare, most copies replacing this with 'The Chiropodist''. Grego Vol II, pp. 119-124.
[Ref: 54618] £4,500.00