1842 Exquisite First Edition bound by Bayntun - George Cruikshank's Omnibus
Author: Edited by Laman Blanchard. Illustrated by George Cruikshank.
Title: George Cruikshanks Omnibus Illustrated with One Hundred Engravings on Steel and Wood. Edited by Laman Blanchard, Esq.
Publisher: London: Tilt and Bogue, Fleet Street, MDCCCXLII (1842). First edition in book form.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 9 x 5.5 inches.
Pages: viii + 300 pages.
Binding: Exquisite and near fine binding, bound in full crimson crushed morocco by Bayntun, Binder, Bath, England, with elaborately gilt-tooled borders on both covers, raised bands, gilt compartments, and gilt titling to spine (hinges fine, very discreet edge wear — as shown). Inner gilt dentelles with richly patterned tooling. Handsome early marbled endpapers under a protective, removable mylar cover. A magnificent and imposing presentation binding, done to the highest Bayntun standard.
Content: Very good and clean (occasional light foxing or toning — as shown; contents otherwise bright, crisp, and beautifully preserved - as shown).
Illustrations: Illustrated with one hundred engravings on steel and wood by George Cruikshank, including a fine portrait frontispiece (with facsimile signature), the celebrated circular "Preface" plate teeming with character groups, and numerous vignettes throughout the text. (Complete).
Estimate: (USD 600 – 800).
The book: A splendidly bound 1842 first edition of George Cruikshank's Omnibus, one of the key Victorian collections showcasing the illustrator’s prodigious wit, technical mastery, and visual inventiveness. The volume gathers essays, tales, satirical pieces, and humorous sketches by Laman Blanchard and others, each accompanied by Cruikshank’s dazzling engravings.
This edition features the full suite of one hundred engravings, ranging from animated street scenes and character portraits to fantastical caricatures and social satire. Of special importance is the celebrated circular “Preface” plate — a whirl of bustling figures, acrobatics, eccentricities, and comic chaos — one of the most iconic graphic compositions in Cruikshank’s oeuvre.
The luxurious Bayntun binding elevates the work to collector-level presentation, combining a major Victorian illustrator with one of the finest English bookbinding houses of the 20th century. This is an exceptional example for any library focused on illustration, caricature, Victorian literature, or fine bindings.
The author/editor: Laman Blanchard (1803–1845) was a prolific journalist, editor, essayist, and man of letters. A well-known contributor to London’s periodicals, he brought together a spirited miscellany of prose pieces for The Omnibus, writing with humor, affection for urban life, and a keen eye for social observation. His collaboration with Cruikshank captured the energy and eccentricity of early Victorian London.
The illustrator: George Cruikshank (1792–1878) stands among the greatest British illustrators of the 19th century. Renowned for his caricatures, political satire, and later for his collaborations with Charles Dickens (including Oliver Twist), Cruikshank brought unparalleled expressive range to both social commentary and pure comic invention. His engravings for The Omnibus display the full spectrum of his talent — from tightly observed everyday life to wildly imaginative scenes — making this volume a cornerstone of his artistic legacy.