This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/21/2024
[CRUIKSHANK, George (1792-1878), illustrator]. AINSWORTH, William Harrison (1805-1882). Guy Fawkes. An Historical Romance… [London:] Bentley’s Miscellany, [ca. 1840]. 8vo. Illustrated with 22 full-page black and white etchings by Cruikshank. The original 22 monthly parts (text of the story and plates only), collected in one volume. Approximately 8 ½ x 5”. Beautifully bound by G. P. Putnam’s Sons for the Knickerbocker Press in nineteenth-century full brown levant morocco, boards triple-ruled in gilt, spine ruled and lettered in gilt in compartments, five raised bands, gilt turn-ins, marbled endleaves (spine a bit dull, some light wear to joints, minor rubbing to binding, plates with some occasional marginal toning). Fine. FIRST EDITION OF THIS HISTORICAL ROMANCE BASED ON THE “GUNPOWDER TREASON AND PLOT,” LEGENDARY DIRECTOR GEORGE CUKOR’S COPY WITH HIS BOOKPLATE ON THE FP. With the poem, The Evening Star, by Henry Wasdworth Longfellow between parts XIII and XIV. This is the first of Ainsworth’s “Lancashire” novels, and was commercially successful, but endured some criticism (including Edgar Allan Poe, who considered it “beneath contempt.”) Of course, Fawkes (1570-1606) is the partial inspiration of the character in Alan Moore’s V for Vendetta (1988), which has spawned the famous “Guy Fawkes” mask of the title-character, so prominent in mass media.