The Comic Almanack for 1838, An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest

This First Edition copy of The Comic Almanack for 1838, An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, , containing "All Things Fitting For Such A Work", by Ricdum Funnidos, Gent. and Adorned with a Dozen of "Righte Merrie" Cuts, Pertaining to the Months, and an Hieroglyphic, by George Cruikshank was published by Charles Tilt, Bibliopolist, in Fleet Street and printed by Vizetelly, Branston and Co., Printers, Fleet Street. The book, which measures approximately 4 ¼ x 6 ¾ inches, contains 64 pages devoted to the subject matter of the Comic Almanack plus an additional 12 page section of advertisements covering multiple subjects from books to Life Insurance. There is also a tipped in advertisement, in the front free end papers and dated Nov. 18, 1837, for four books on sale. The book is bound in stiff yellow paper with brown text and decorative illustrations on both front and back. A book plate on the inside front cover bears the name of a previous owner, i.e., Etta Mary Arnold Clark. The covers of the book are somewhat stained by dirt, the pages are very mildly tanned, with a few pages having border markings; the overall condition of the book is very good.

The book presents, for each month of 1838, a table which shows the times of sun and moon risings and settings and dates of festivals during the month. Each month also has a full page black and white illustration by George Cruikshank with its opposite page having an illustrated heading over textual material appropriate for that month. After all twelve months are completed, the book contains the Hieroglyphicum in Futuro, by Cruikshank, a 3-page article titled "Manners Made Easy; or, How to Cobble a Silk Purse Out of a Sow's Ear", some poetry, and tables of data on subjects that vary from Birthdays of the Royal Family to Bankers in London to a List of the House of Commons (Elected in August, 1837).

The illustrations accompanying this description show the Front Cover, the Rear Cover, the Title page, a 2-page spread of textual material and Cruikshank illustration for the month, and a typical 2-page spread of general data.

George Cruikshank (27 September 1792 – 1 February 1878) was a British caricaturist and book illustrator, praised as the "modern Hogarth" during his life. His book illustrations for his friend Charles Dickens, and many other authors, reached an international audience. [Wikipedia]