The Novels of William Harrison Ainsworth (in 20 vols)

London: Gibbings & Company, Limited, 1902. Windsor Edition. Fine. Limited to 2,000 copies. Twenty small octavo volumes measuring 174 x 110 mm., together occupying approximately 19 1/2 inches (49 1/2 cm.) of shelf space. Contemporary half maroon scored calf over red marbled boards. Spines decoratively tooled and lettered in gilt with five raised bands, top edge gilt, others uncut, marbled endpapers. Illustrated with 64 photogravures from the etchings by George Cruikshank, 12 by Hablot K. Browne, 4 by Sir John Gilbert, 1 by Lane, 2 by Maclise, and 1 by D'Orsay. Each volume with an engraved title-page designed by Frank Brangwyn. A Fine and attractive (truncated) set.

William Harrison Ainsworth, English author of popular historical romances, “initially studied law but abandoned it for literature. His first success came with the novel Rookwood (1834), featuring the highwayman Dick Turpin as its main character. This book was followed by many other historical novels, 39 in all, the best known of which are The Tower of London (1840), Old St. Paul’s, a Tale of the Plague and the Fire of London (1841), Windsor Castle: An Historical Romance (1843), and The Lancashire Witches (1849). Ainsworth became editor of Bentley’s Miscellany in 1839, and he owned that periodical from 1854 to 1868. He was also editor at various times of The New Monthly Magazine and his own Ainsworth’s Magazine” (Encyclopedia of Literature). Fine. (Inventory #: 3554)