1859 Rare First Edition - Baron Munchausen's Adventures Illustrated by Crowquill

Author: Raspe (Rudolph Erich). (Alfred Crowquill, Illustrator).
Title: The Travels and Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Illustrated by Alfred Crowquill.
Publisher: London, Trübner & Co., 1859. First Illustrated Edition by Alfred Crowquill.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7.5 " X 5 ".
Pages: xii-194 pages.
Binding: Attractive and near fine original gilt decorated full-cloth binding (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. All edges gilt. A beautiful example of mid-19th century decorative clothwork with fine patina.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight, and clean, with only scattered foxing or toning, mostly confined to margins and illustrated plates - as shown, neat period signature on front endpaper and armorial bookseller’s label (Westleys & Co.) to rear endpaper - as shown). 
Illustrations: Splendidly illustrated throughout by Alfred Crowquill, with a striking hand-colored frontispiece portrait of the Baron, humorous vignette title, ornamental initials, and nine finely executed full-page hand-colored plates capturing the fantastical and absurd adventures—such as the Baron meeting monstrous beasts, voyages to the moon, and polar shipwrecks. Plates retain strong color and impression.

The book: Rare and attractive First Crowquill illustrated edition. This is a rare mid-Victorian illustrated first edition of one of the most celebrated works of imaginative satire: The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen. First published in 1785, the tales draw loosely upon the exploits of the real Hieronymus Karl Friedrich, Baron von Münchhausen, while expanding into an extravagant web of absurdity, exaggeration, and tall tales. This 1859 Trübner edition is especially notable for its richly gilt publisher’s binding and Crowquill’s humorous, hand-colored illustrations presented for the first time, which perfectly capture the spirit of parody and whimsy. It stands as both a collector’s piece of 19th-century book design and a cultural emblem of comic literature.

The author: Rudolf Erich Raspe (March 1736 – 16 November 1794) was a German librarian, writer, and scientist, called by his biographer John Patrick Carswell a "rogue". He is best known for his collection of tall tales The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen, also known as Baron Munchausen's Narrative of his Marvellous Travels and Campaigns in Russia, originally a satirical work with political aims.

The illustrator: Alfred Henry Forrester (10 September 1804 – 26 May 1872) was an English author, comics artist, illustrator, and artist, who was also known under the pseudonym of Alfred Crowquill.