Cruikshank, Sketches by Boz,1836-1837, proof impressions of etched plates

CRUIKSHANK, GEORGE

Sketches by Boz [First and Second Series]. London: John Macrone [1836-1837]

4to (282 x 204mm.), PROOF IMPRESSIONS ON INDIA PAPER, etched pictorial title-page and 27 plates by George Cruikshank, each mounted on a larger leaf, nineteenth-century straight-grain dark green morocco gilt, gilt edges, one leaf torn at lower edge

Charles Dickens first met George Cruikshank, who went on to become the most respected of all his illustrators, at a literary gathering hosted by William Harrison Ainsworth. Ainsworth "saw how good Boz's work was, set out to discover his true identity, introduced himself and urged Dickens to publish a collection of his sketches. Nothing could be easier: here was his own publisher John Macrone, and here was another friend, George Cruikshank, the most admired artist in the country, to provide the illustrations..." (Tomalin, pp.59-60).

PROVENANCE:

AWF, bookplate.