first edition Hardcover
1968 · New York
by Gillray, James
New York: Benjamin Blom, Inc.. Very Good. 1968. First Edition Thus. Hardcover. (no dust jacket) [modest soiling to covers, light foxing to edges of text block; internally quite clean]. (B&W illustrations) A reissue of the volume originally published in London by Henry G. Bohn in 1851, the title page of which (reproduced herein) reads: "The Works of James Gillray, from the Original Plates, with the Addition of Many Subjects Not Before Collected." The Supplement referred to is at the end of the book, and is prefaced by this note: "The following 45 plates were issued in a separate volume by Henry G. Bohn, c. 1850. Because of their subject matter these plates were not in general circulation, and hence have come to be referred to as THE SUPPRESSED PLATES." (These are mostly of a sexual or scatalogical nature.) Gillray (1756-1815), known as "the father of the political cartoon," was one of the master caricaturists of his day. The original Bohn Edition, which went through several printings between 1847 and 1851, was the first really comprehensive collection of the artist's work, although as Wikipedia notes: "Although the two volumes of the Bohn Edition are often represented as being a complete collection of Gillray's works, this is not the case" (citing at least one example). It's also noted that because the original Bohn edition was printed on rectos only (i.e. the reverse side of each page was blank), many of the original volumes have subsequently been broken up, and the individual prints passed off as originals by unscrupulous sellers. (Indeed, there appear to be no intact volumes currently for offer online, although the Bohn Edition is well represented in the world's libraries, per OCLC.) In this reissue edition, however, all plates are printed on both sides of the page (and all are in black-and-white), so don't you go getting any ideas. ****NOTE that additional postage charges will be assessed for international shipping of this large, heavy volume; if this concerns you, please contact us for a shipping quote before placing your order. As always at ReadInk, domestic Media Mail shipping is free.**** . (Inventory #: 28618)