Tales of the Cordelier Metamorphosed. As narrated in a manuscript from the Borromeo collection; and in the Cordelier Cheval of M. Piron. With translations.
London: Printed at the Shakespeare Press, by W. Bulmer and W. Nicol, 1821. First edition. Privately printed in an edition of sixty-four copies for noted book collector George Hibbert (1757–1837), who purchased the manuscript in 1817 at the sale of the library of Count Borromeo of Padua. The text is a humorous tale, attributed to Italian author Michele Colombo (1747-1830), together with a French version in verse by Alexis Piron (1689-1773), with English translations by Hibbert printed below. With eleven etchings by I.R. Cruikshank (1789–1856), elder brother of George Cruikshank, mounted on India paper. Boards rubbed, some spotting to calf, intermittent light foxing and offsetting. A good copy. With the armorial bookplate of Lady Davy (1780-1850), society figure, traveler, and wife of Sir Humphrey Davy. Contemporary half brown calf over marbled boards, gilt spine with black morocco label. Quarto. [4], 54, [1] pp. Item #14612
Di Ricci, p. 100. Dobell, Privately Printed Books, p. 176 (“necessarily very rare and…a prize for a collector of Cruikshankiana.”).
Price: $500.00