Goodall Binding The Comic History of England Vol 1&2 / A'Beckett/ Leech 1847

  

An absolutely gorgeous first edition of the celebrated humorous history of England by Gilbert A Beckett and John Leech, in one beautiful finely-bound full leather binding by Charles Goodall, with his binder's sticker affixed to the rear endpaper. Initially published in parts between 1846 and 1848, this was the first book form edition complete in two volumes, bound here together in one bright, glorious piece of bookwork. Featuring 20 hand colored etchings by Leech and hundreds of vignette woodcuts. Fine binding features elaborate gilt patterns to front and rear covers, raised bands and six heavily gilted spine compartments, top edge gilt, gilt inner dentelles, and marble endpapers.

Binding is bright and tight, has held up remarkably well for 175 years. Tiny bit of loss at upper left of spine crown (easy to miss, see photos), but other than that, very lovely. Internally, the binding is firm and the pages are bright, with some slight offsetting to a few of the pages opposite the hand-colored plates.