[Double Fore-Edge Paintings] Hudibras (Two Volumes). With Historical, Biographical, and Explanatory Notes . . . A Life of the Author and a Preliminary Discourse on the Civil War.; A New Edition Embellished with Twelve Engravings

London: Akerman; Walker and Co.; Reid; Bigg; etc. Engravings from Thomas McLean, 1822. Full Straight-Grained Red Morocco. Very Good. A truly special copy, with both volumes featuring double fore-edge paintings, each edge having three paintings of three scenes from the landmark satirical epic poem, for a total of twelve different illustrations, these nicely based on the twelve hand-colored engravings done by Clark contained herein and originally done on behalf of Thomas McLean who issued an edition of the poem three years earlier! 8vo. 21.5 by 14 cm. lxxiv, [2], 444, 494 pp. And with12 hand-colored engravings by Clark. The contemporary full straight-grained (truncated) red morocco binding has gilt decoration on its boards, with outer ruling and within this, a band of an ivy band, and then a thin blindstamped band with a simpler repeated pattern. Impressed on spine is the title and volume numbers, all done with gilt, and more foliate gilt decoration on the spines, which have four wide, and flat, raised bands. There is also a thin gilt rope pattern turn-in on the inside covers. With armorial bookplates mounted on FEPs in both volumes. The joints and edges of the binding have rubbing -- in other words, shelfwear and wear from simple opening and closing. A few scratches on the spine. Foxing on the blank leaves, front and back, both volumes, and typical offsetting from the plates. Otherwise the leaves are quite clean and fresh. The fore-edge vignette paintings probably have had some fading -- the colors are duller than they were originally, but all these paintings remain vivid, with no discernible loss of detail. (Inventory #: 007939)