George Cruikshank’s Table-Book - 1885 – New Edition

This copy of George Cruikshank's Table-Book, Edited by Gilbert Abbott À Beckett, is one of a Limited Edition of 300 copies published in 1885 by George Bell and Sons of London. The book is further identified as being Illustrated with Twelve Steel Plates, and One Hundred and Sixteen Engravings on Wood by George Cruikshank – New Edition – With India Paper Impressions. The book, which measures approximately 8 ¼ inches wide by 11 ½ inches tall by 1 ¼ inches thick, has 277 numbered pages containing over 90 stories, by multiple authors, with the wood engraving illustrations by Cruikshank for those stories. The twelve steel plate illustrations are distributed throughout the book on individual unnumbered pages. The book is bound in contemporary half-morocco pebbled cloth covers. The pages have gilt on the top edges and are untrimmed on the other edges. The pages are very lightly tanned, with text that is clear and easily read. The cover has some indications of wear along the edges, corners and the top and bottom edges of the spine. The overall condition of the book is very good.

A book-plate on one of the front free end-papers indicates that the book was once owned by William E. Ambler. Although several people with that name can be found on internet searches, the information available does not provide any certain identity of the book-plate's owner.

The illustrations accompanying this description show the book's covers, the "text" Title page, an "illustrated" Title page, a page with a steel plate, and a typical two-page with text and wood engravings.

George Cruikshank, (born September 27, 1792, London, England—died February 1, 1878, London), English artist, caricaturist, and illustrator who, beginning his career with satirical political cartoons and later illustrating topical and children's books, became one of the most prolific and popular masters of his art.