CRUIKSHANK, George (1792-1878). The Comic Almanack. London: Charles Tilt and David Bogue, 1835-1853.

Finely bound first edition with original front and rear wrappers bound-in. Comprised of jokes, poems, stories, and illustrations, The Comic Almanack is one of Cruikshank’s earliest works, featuring pieces by notable contributors including William Makepeace Thackeray. This annually published series provides great insight into the trends, politics, and fashions of the Regency period, expertly depicted by Cruikshank’s drawings and editorial skills. The rare prospectus for the Naturalist's Library with the colored plate of “The Canadian Grouse” present for 1837. Cohn 183; DNB.

19 volumes, various sizes from octavo (166 x 102mm) and smaller. Numerous etched plates and in-text illustrations in each volume, with hand-colored folding frontispieces in the last four (scattered spots, a few plates with minor foxing). Contemporary pale polished calf gilt, spines in compartments with five raised bands, red morocco gilt-stamped spine labels, gilt-tooled turn-ins, marbled endpapers, with original wrappers preserved and bound-in. All in a fleece-lined cloth box (lightly worn). Provenance: Philip M. Neufeld (his sale, Christie’s New York, 25 April 1995, Lot 108).