COMBE, WILLIAM. The Tour of Doctor Syntax in Search of the Picturesque; The Second Tour of Doctor Syntax, In Search of Consolation; The Third Tour of Doctor Syntax, In Search of a Wife. London: R. Ackermann, 1812-20-[21].
3 volumes. 8vo (222 x 132mm). [iv], [1], 275; [2], [1], [2], 277; [2], [1], 279 pp. 30 hand-colored aquatint plates and title in first volume; 24 hand-colored aquatint plates in second volume; and 23 (of 24) hand-colored aquatint plates, title-page, and vignette on final page in third volume. Uniform full red calf by Bayntun-Riviere, gilt tooled spine compartments with green and navy blue morocco labels, gilt borders and dentelles, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers. Custom cloth slipcase. Internally clean with faint spotting to a few plates in vol 1, lacking plate 23 ("A Noble Hunting Party") in vol 3, light rubbing to joints and spine labels but overall in excellent condition.

FIRST EDITIONS, FIRST ISSUE OF THE FIRST TOUR, with "Chapter I" heading and first state of plate 5, "Doctor Syntax Bound to a Tree by Highwaymen," second state of plate 15 in the Second Tour. The First Tour features three illustrations not included in its serial issue, namely the frontispiece, vignette title, and plate 28, "The Doctors Dream or the Battle of Books." Abbey Life 266-267; Tooley 427-429.
See illustration overleaf.