CRUIKSHANK, George (introduction by Joseph Grego). (1903 - EDITION-DE-LUXE IN EXTRAORDINARILY LAVISH MORRELL PICTORIAL BINDING)

AUTHOR: CRUIKSHANK, George (introduction by Joseph Grego)

TITLE: Cruikshank's Water Colours.

PUBLISHER: London: A. & C. Black, 1903.

DESCRIPTION: EDITION-DE-LUXE IN EXTRAORDINARILY LAVISH MORRELL PICTORIAL BINDING. 4to., 10-9/16 x 8-5/8, limited to 100 copies on large paper this being #88, signed by the publishers below limitation notice, illustrated with a frontispiece and 67 color plates showcasing the works by celebrated book illustrator George Cruikshank, bound in full green crushed levant morocco, covers with triple gilt fillet and a band of inlaid crimson morocco, around a broad border of elaborately interlaced scrolls and stylized leaves inlaid in a different shade of green, crimson, mauve and fawn morocco gilt, all to an Art Nouveau design, around a large rectangular vari-colored morocco onlay showing "The Last Chance" [the death of Bill Sykes] on front cover and "Fagin in the condemned cell" on rear cover; spine with five raised bands, gilt lettered in one compartment, a repeated panel of crimson, orange, yellow and green inlaid morocco to an Art Nouveau design in the rest; board edges with double gilt fillet, turn-ins with four gilt fillets and a band of inlaid crimson morocco, doublures of green and burnt orange morocco, inlaid with a dramatic Art Nouveau design of ribbons and flowers around a shaped vase centerpiece of light blue morocco, inlaid in a different shade of green, mauve, yellow and red morocco, burnt orange morocco free endpages gilt, top edge gilt, others uncut as issued, by Morrell.

CONDITION: Inner and outer hinges fine, head and foot of spine fine, internally clean and bright, faint scratch (expertly repaired) to upper edge of front cover, some ever so slight handling to spine, overall IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, housed in a quarter green morocco gilt clamshell slipcase.

PROVENANCE: Matthew Chaloner Borden, 1842-1912 (bookplate) – American Art Association, 17 Feb 1913, lot 172 - Christie’s East, 5 December 1991, lot 420.