ROWLANDSON, THOMAS. 1756-1827.
[COMBE, WILLIAM. 1742-1823.] 4 illustrated works, comprising:
1. Hungarian and Highland Broad Sword. London: H. Angelo, 1799.
Oblong folio (308 x 400 mm). Hand-colored etched title page and 23 hand-colored etched plates. 20th century three-quarter red morocco and cloth, morocco gilt title label on upper cover, marbled endpapers, edges gilt. Marginal repairs to upper right corners of most plates, title page soiled, some browning and offsetting throughout. Colas 2587; Tooley 414.
2. The English Dance of Death from the designs of Thomas Rowlandson, with metrical illustrations, by the author of "Doctor Syntax." London: R. Ackermann, 1815-1816.
2 volumes. 8vo (230 x 140 mm). Hand-colored engraved frontispieces in both volumes, additional engraved title in Volume I, 72 hand-colored aquatint plates. Later textured tan calf, gilt-ruled covers, spine gilt in 6 compartments, marbled endpapers, edges gilt. Upper cover of Volume I detached, rubbed, offsetting and spotting.
3. The Dance of Life, A Poem. London: R. Ackermann, 1817.
8vo (230 x 140 mm). Hand-colored engraved frontispiece, additional engraved title, and 24 hand-colored engraved plates. Bound as above. Rubbed, upper joint starting, offsetting and spotting.
4. Journal of Sentimental Travels in the Southern Provinces of France. London: R. Ackerman, 1821.
8vo (233 x 148 mm). 18 hand-colored engraved illustrations. 20th century red morocco gilt, gilt-ruled decorations on covers and spine, edges gilt. Rubbed, offsetting and minor browning.
FIRST EDITIONS, the last title appearing for the first time in book form, having originally appeared in Ackermann's Repository from 1817-1820. "Indispensable to any Rowlandson collection, [and] one of the essential pivots of any colour plate Library" (Tooley). Abbey 263, 264, and 89; Tooley 410, 411, and 415.