1878 Carmine Edition – The Ingoldsby Legends by Thomas Ingoldsby, Illustrated

Author: Thomas Ingoldsby (pseud. of Richard Harris Barham).
Title: The Ingoldsby Legends; or, Mirth and Marvels.
Publisher: London, Richard Bentley & Son, 1878 (Carmine Edition).
Language: Text in English.
Size: 8" x 5.5". 
Pages: xii-468 pages
Binding: Attractive and very good contemporary full red morocco leather binding with elegant gilt floral and geometric decoration on both covers and spine, five raised bands, gilt dentelles (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. All edges gilt. A magnificent example of Victorian fine binding.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, the text pages are clean, crisp, and bright, while the illustrated pages show some foxing in the margins due to the different paper stock used for engravings—typical for this edition - as shown,  signed and dated ownership inscription S. Millward, Nov. 5, 1878 on the first endpaper - as shown ). 
Illustrations: Complete with numerous full-page illustrations by George Cruikshank, John Leech, and John Tenniel, including the illustrated engraved title page printed in red and black.

Estimate: (USD 300 – 500).

The Book: A splendid Carmine Edition of The Ingoldsby Legends, one of the most celebrated illustrated literary works of the Victorian era. This 1878 edition, printed by William Clowes and Sons, showcases Barham’s witty fusion of ghostly legend, satirical humor, and English folklore—enhanced by the comic genius of Cruikshank, Leech, and Tenniel. The luxurious bright red morocco binding and the crisp typography bordered in red epitomize late 19th-century craftsmanship. A copy that combines aesthetic refinement with literary charm, ideal for collectors of Victorian illustrated classics.

The Author: Richard Harris Barham (1788–1845), writing under the pseudonym Thomas Ingoldsby, was an English clergyman, humorist, and author. His Ingoldsby Legends originated as lighthearted tales for Bentley’s Miscellany, blending Gothic parody, ecclesiastical satire, and ghostly whimsy. They became a cultural phenomenon, admired by Dickens and Thackeray alike, and remain a cornerstone of English comic literature.

The Illustrators: George Cruikshank, John Leech, and Sir John Tenniel—three giants of British illustration—bring the legends vividly to life. Cruikshank’s caricatural energy, Leech’s warmth, and Tenniel’s precision merge to create an unforgettable visual accompaniment to Barham’s verse.