[EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED]. DANIEL, George. Merrie England in the Olden Time. London: Richard Bentley, 1842. 8vos. Profusely extra-illustrated. 2 volumes. 292; 296 pp. Bound by Jenkins & Cecil in 19th century half red levant morocco over red pebbled cloth, boards ruled in gilt, spines ruled, tooled and lettered in gilt in compartments, five raised bands, top edges gilt, marbled endleaves (joints worn, some rubbing, light wear, soiling, hinges starting, a few gutters overopened). Very good. FIRST EDITION, EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED WITH NEARLY 200 ENGRAVINGS, HAND-COLORED PLATES, A FEW ORIGINAL WATERCOLORS, AND SEVERAL IMAGES OF MAGICIANS, ODDITIES, STREET PERFORMERS, AND ACROBATS.
Some of the magic and oddities inserted are: “Mr. Grimaldi," “Jeffry Dunstan, Mayor of Garret" [laid-in portrait of a dwarf], an uncaptioned outdoor quackery medicine show, “Mr. Patrick O'Brien, The Celebrated Irish Giant", an uncaptioned hand-colored plate of a bear and camel performance, an uncaptioned Asian-themed acrobat performance, “Mother Damnable of Kentish Town", “Elinour Rummin, The famous Ale-wife of England", an uncaptioned archery competition, an uncaptioned magic performance of card tricks, “Joe Haynes's Mountebanks Speech", “John Woremberg et Switzar his height two foot Seven Inches Aged 38 Years…" an uncaptioned portrait of a dwarf (possibly William Evans), “Clark the English Posture Master", “Hans Buling" (quackery medicine seller with a monkey), fold-out hand-colored plate of an indoor horse circus act, “Mr. Henry Blacker the British Giant", “Patrick O'Brien the Wonderful Irish Giant", “The Satyr" (a Mandrill smoking a pipe), fold-out hand-colored plate of a raucous stage performance, “Pretty Betty Bill sung by Mr. Grimaldi" (hand-colored fold-out handbill with woodcut of Grimaldi and a woman), “Mr. Thos. Allen the Surprising Small Man / Lady Morgan the Celebrated Windsor Fairy…" hand-colored folding plate of a nighttime carnival outdoor performance with a ferris wheel and other rides visible, an uncaptioned magic performance with a jester, and an uncaptioned performing horse act, and many, many more illustrations of famous people and places.