The Comic History of England
by Gilbert Abbott à Beckett, Illustrated by John Leech — London, Punch Office, 1855–1857 (2 Volumes)
A celebrated Victorian satire, The Comic History of England (1855–57) presents a brilliantly illustrated chronicle of England’s past, written by humorist Gilbert Abbott à Beckett and brought to life by John Leech, the famed caricaturist of Punch magazine and illustrator of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. With biting wit and lively imagery, the work lampoons monarchs, politicians, and pivotal events from ancient Britain through the reign of George II, blending historical narrative with comic exaggeration.
This set is illustrated with at least 12 hand-colored steel etchings (more than the standard issue of 10), together with over 120 in-text woodcuts by John Leech. The plates capture satirical moments such as King John Signing Magna Charta and An Evening Party in the Time of Charles II, with Leech’s humor and detail making them some of the finest caricature illustrations of the period.
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Bound in dark green half morocco with gilt-panelled spines, marbled boards, and all edges gilt, the set reflects the period’s taste for fine bindings.
Provenance:
This set carries a particularly rich provenance trail across military, landed, and literary circles:
- The title page bears the inscription “Rear Admiral Mainwaring Whitmore”, almost certainly Rear Admiral Rowland Mainwaring (1783–1862) of Whitmore Hall, Staffordshire, a distinguished Royal Navy officer whose family residence has deep historical roots.
- A later inscription records ownership by Maude Parker Jerris, Aston Hall, possibly linked to one of Britain’s stately Aston Halls, suggesting the set passed through another household of note in the late 19th or early 20th century.
- The marbled endpapers contain a heraldic bookplate of H. Norris, depicting a stag pierced by an arrow, accompanied by the handwritten note “Byron Leigh Williams”, likely a modern collector who continued its legacy of careful stewardship.
Together, these layers of provenance reflect the journey of a Victorian comic masterpiece through distinguished hands over nearly two centuries.
Condition
Binding remains sound and attractive, with light rubbing to edges and joints. Scattered foxing, especially to preliminaries, with some age-toning. Plates are bright, and the hand-coloring remains vivid and fresh.
Dimensions: Octavo, 2 volumes.
Historical Note:
Gilbert Abbott à Beckett (1811–1856), barrister and wit, was a central contributor to Punch, where his sharp irony often skewered British institutions. This book, among his most enduring works, paired his text with Leech’s caricatures, cementing both men’s legacies in Victorian satirical literature. Leech’s illustrations here are among his finest, predating his iconic contributions to Dickens.
The Comic History of England
by Gilbert Abbott à Beckett, Illustrated by John Leech — London, Punch Office, 1855–1857 (2 Volumes)
A celebrated Victorian satire, The Comic History of England (1855–57) presents a brilliantly illustrated chronicle of England’s past, written by humorist Gilbert Abbott à Beckett and brought to life by John Leech, the famed caricaturist of Punch magazine and illustrator of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. With biting wit and lively imagery, the work lampoons monarchs, politicians, and pivotal events from ancient Britain through the reign of George II, blending historical narrative with comic exaggeration.
This set is illustrated with at least 12 hand-colored steel etchings (more than the standard issue of 10), together with over 120 in-text woodcuts by John Leech. The plates capture satirical moments such as King John Signing Magna Charta and An Evening Party in the Time of Charles II, with Leech’s humor and detail making them some of the finest caricature illustrations of the period.
.
Bound in dark green half morocco with gilt-panelled spines, marbled boards, and all edges gilt, the set reflects the period’s taste for fine bindings.
Provenance:
This set carries a particularly rich provenance trail across military, landed, and literary circles:
- The title page bears the inscription “Rear Admiral Mainwaring Whitmore”, almost certainly Rear Admiral Rowland Mainwaring (1783–1862) of Whitmore Hall, Staffordshire, a distinguished Royal Navy officer whose family residence has deep historical roots.
- A later inscription records ownership by Maude Parker Jerris, Aston Hall, possibly linked to one of Britain’s stately Aston Halls, suggesting the set passed through another household of note in the late 19th or early 20th century.
- The marbled endpapers contain a heraldic bookplate of H. Norris, depicting a stag pierced by an arrow, accompanied by the handwritten note “Byron Leigh Williams”, likely a modern collector who continued its legacy of careful stewardship.
Together, these layers of provenance reflect the journey of a Victorian comic masterpiece through distinguished hands over nearly two centuries.
Condition
Binding remains sound and attractive, with light rubbing to edges and joints. Scattered foxing, especially to preliminaries, with some age-toning. Plates are bright, and the hand-coloring remains vivid and fresh.
Dimensions: Octavo, 2 volumes.
Historical Note:
Gilbert Abbott à Beckett (1811–1856), barrister and wit, was a central contributor to Punch, where his sharp irony often skewered British institutions. This book, among his most enduring works, paired his text with Leech’s caricatures, cementing both men’s legacies in Victorian satirical literature. Leech’s illustrations here are among his finest, predating his iconic contributions to Dickens.