1847 Rare First Edition - The Inundation or, Pardon and Peace. A Christmas Story

Author: Gore, Mrs. (Catherine Frances Gore). Illustrated by George Cruikshank.
Title: The Inundation; or, Pardon and Peace. A Christmas Story.
Publisher: London, Fisher, Son & Co., no date (1847). First Edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 6.5 x 4.5 inches. 
Pages: 222 pages. 
Binding: Good original publisher’s green cloth binding, blind-stamped with ornate Victorian decorative panels to boards (hinges fine, overall worn and scuffed - as shown, spine faded to a lighter tone with wear at head and tail - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Good content (tight, some foxing and staining, age-toning throughout, more pronounced at margins and tissue guards - as shown). Neat contemporary presentation inscription to front free endpaper. 
Illustrations: Illustrated with four steel engravings by George Cruikshank, including dramatic narrative scenes. Plates are well-printed, expressive, and characteristic of Cruikshank’s mature book illustration style.

The book: The Inundation; or, Pardon and Peace is a Victorian Christmas tale blending moral reflection, domestic drama, and redemption—hallmarks of early 19th-century seasonal literature. Set against themes of disaster and reconciliation, the story reflects the period’s fascination with providence, forgiveness, and social duty. Issued in decorative cloth and illustrated by one of the century’s most important artists, this volume stands as a fine example of illustrated gift books produced for the Christmas market in early Victorian England.

The author: Catherine Frances Gore (1798–1861), writing as Mrs. Gore, was a prolific and influential English novelist, celebrated for her keen observations of society and fashionable life. Though often associated with silver-fork novels, her work extended into moral and domestic fiction, and she played a significant role in shaping Victorian popular literature.

The illustrator: George Cruikshank (1792–1878) was one of the most important British illustrators of the 19th century, renowned for his satirical prints and book illustrations. His work for Dickens, including Oliver Twist, secured his lasting fame. Cruikshank’s illustrations combine narrative clarity with expressive line work, making his contributions highly sought after by collectors of illustrated literature.