The universal songster; or, museum of mirth: forming the most complete, extensive and valuable collection of ancient and modern songs in the English language: with a copious and classified index

London: published by Jones and Co., Temple of the Muses, Finsbury Square, n.d., 1832. 3 volumes, 8vo, 3 engraved frontispieces and 84 woodcut illustrations designed by George (24) and Robert Cruikshank (57), plus 3 after other artists, and engraved by J. R. Marshall; later half maroon calf, gilt-decorated spine in 6 compartments, brown and green leather labels in 2, all edges marbled, marbled endpapers; spines a bit sunned and the whole lightly rubbed; very good. Large engraved bookplates of Frank Cyril Tiarks of Foxbury. Originally issued in 84 weekly numbers of 16 pages each, 1825-28. "Every month four of the weekly parts was issued in a monthly number (truncated) of 64 pp. in a yellow printed wrapper ... Twenty-four of these parts were issued, eight to a volume ... The work was shortly afterwards reissued by Jones & Co. [as here] ... and there were many subsequent editions." The engraved half-title in volume I is in the second state, as usual; the engraved frontispiece in volume I is dated 1832. The number of songs is seemingly endless and fall under the headings of Ancient, Amatory, Bacchanalian, Comic, Dibdin's Songs, Duets, Trios, Catches [et al.], Irish, Jews' Songs, Masonic Songs, Military Songs, Naval Songs, Scotch, Sentimental, Sporting, Welsh, Yorkshire and Provincial, and Miscellaneous. Cohen 820. (Inventory #: 59811)