The Universal Songster or, Museum of Mirth: Forming The Most Complete, Extensive, and Valuable Collection of Ancient and Modern Songs in the English Language
Hardcover
London
by CRUIKSHANK, George
London: Printed for John Fairburn. Hardcover. Very Good+. Three volumes. xvi, 448; xvi, 448; xvi, 448 pp. With 4 etched frontispieces by George Cruikshank, plus 84 woodcut designs by George and Robert Cruikshank plus others (24 by George, 57 by Robert, 3 by others). First Edition. An enormous collection of songs with humorous woodcut designs by the Cruikshank brothers. A helpful index at the beginning of each volume organizes this vast collection into the following categories: Ancient, Amatory, Bacchanalian, Comic, Dibdins' Miscellaneous, Duets, Trios, Glees, Chorusses, Irish, Jews, Masonic, Military, Naval, Scotch, Sentimental, Sporting, Welsh, Yorkshire, &c. Bound in volume one is the rare first state of the frontispiece with the large Toby character. Title-page of volume one mounted on tab, a few small chips on the binding, otherwise fine. Cohn states that volume three was published in 1828, however the present copy is dated 1826 on the title-page, however the frontispiece is dated May 22, 1827. With the bookplates of John Francis Neylan and H.L. Tevis on the front past-down of each volume. Cohn 820. (Inventory #: D14567)