Hudibras by Samuel Butler – Rare 1793 Three-Volume Satirical Edition with Hogarth-Inspired Engravings
Printed by T. Rickaby for James Edwards, Pall Mall, London | Full Calf Binding | 1793
This exquisite three-volume edition of Hudibras by Samuel Butler, printed in 1793, stands as a testament to the refined bibliophilic culture of late Georgian England. Published by James Edwards—one of London’s most prestigious booksellers of the 18th century—and printed by the celebrated Thomas Rickaby, this set combines intellectual satire with superb design and craftsmanship.
Originally penned in the 1660s, Hudibras is a biting Restoration-era poem that lampoons Puritanism and the moral pretensions of the English Civil War through its bumbling anti-hero, Sir Hudibras. Though Butler died in relative obscurity, his work was immensely popular in its day and admired by King Charles II himself.
This luxurious edition was printed at a time of renewed interest in classic English literature, as Enlightenment and post-Revolutionary sensibilities found fresh relevance in Butler’s satire. The Latin epigraph on the title page—alongside elegant typography and rich paper stock—speaks to a highly literate and politically engaged audience.
Notable Features
• Three Volumes complete with full polished tree-calf bindings, ornately tooled in gilt with neoclassical motifs
• Spine labels in red and green Morocco leather, with gilt tooling and volume identifiers
• Marbled edges and marbled endpapers
• Fine copperplate engravings throughout, including a portrait frontispiece of Butler after Sir Peter Lely
• Plates by Thomas Cook, engraved after William Hogarth and other artists, were specially commissioned to complement this edition—offering a neoclassical reinterpretation of Hogarth’s original satirical drawings with greater polish and clarity
Publisher’s Significance
James Edwards of Pall Mall was renowned for producing “books as beautiful objects” for elite collectors. His editions, often lavishly bound and finely illustrated, elevated important literary works into objets d’art. The collaboration with Rickaby ensured immaculate printing quality, while the choice to commission fresh illustrations from Thomas Cook rather than reuse earlier Hogarth plates attests to this edition’s bespoke luxury.
Historical Context
Issued in 1793—a year marked by political unrest and the aftershocks of the French Revolution—this edition of Hudibras resonated anew with readers wary of extremism. The poem’s mockery of religious and ideological fanaticism felt especially pertinent as European powers teetered between revolution and repression.
Condition: Very good antique condition overall. Some foxing to pages and plates as expected with age; bindings solid with minor wear to edges and corners; hinges intact. Marbled page edges retain clarity.
Hudibras by Samuel Butler – Rare 1793 Three-Volume Satirical Edition with Hogarth-Inspired Engravings
Printed by T. Rickaby for James Edwards, Pall Mall, London | Full Calf Binding | 1793
This exquisite three-volume edition of Hudibras by Samuel Butler, printed in 1793, stands as a testament to the refined bibliophilic culture of late Georgian England. Published by James Edwards—one of London’s most prestigious booksellers of the 18th century—and printed by the celebrated Thomas Rickaby, this set combines intellectual satire with superb design and craftsmanship.
Originally penned in the 1660s, Hudibras is a biting Restoration-era poem that lampoons Puritanism and the moral pretensions of the English Civil War through its bumbling anti-hero, Sir Hudibras. Though Butler died in relative obscurity, his work was immensely popular in its day and admired by King Charles II himself.
This luxurious edition was printed at a time of renewed interest in classic English literature, as Enlightenment and post-Revolutionary sensibilities found fresh relevance in Butler’s satire. The Latin epigraph on the title page—alongside elegant typography and rich paper stock—speaks to a highly literate and politically engaged audience.
Notable Features
• Three Volumes complete with full polished tree-calf bindings, ornately tooled in gilt with neoclassical motifs
• Spine labels in red and green Morocco leather, with gilt tooling and volume identifiers
• Marbled edges and marbled endpapers
• Fine copperplate engravings throughout, including a portrait frontispiece of Butler after Sir Peter Lely
• Plates by Thomas Cook, engraved after William Hogarth and other artists, were specially commissioned to complement this edition—offering a neoclassical reinterpretation of Hogarth’s original satirical drawings with greater polish and clarity
Publisher’s Significance
James Edwards of Pall Mall was renowned for producing “books as beautiful objects” for elite collectors. His editions, often lavishly bound and finely illustrated, elevated important literary works into objets d’art. The collaboration with Rickaby ensured immaculate printing quality, while the choice to commission fresh illustrations from Thomas Cook rather than reuse earlier Hogarth plates attests to this edition’s bespoke luxury.
Historical Context
Issued in 1793—a year marked by political unrest and the aftershocks of the French Revolution—this edition of Hudibras resonated anew with readers wary of extremism. The poem’s mockery of religious and ideological fanaticism felt especially pertinent as European powers teetered between revolution and repression.
Condition: Very good antique condition overall. Some foxing to pages and plates as expected with age; bindings solid with minor wear to edges and corners; hinges intact. Marbled page edges retain clarity.