- Museum number
- 1856,0809.21
- Description
-
Reid 4928. 'The Comic Almanack' for 1838 published by Charles Tilt and illustrated by George Cruikshank.
Bound as a book with issues of 'The Comic Almanack' for 1838-40 in red leather and textile with "George Cruikshank. Comic Almanack 1838-40" on the spine.
Lettered on the title-page: "The Comic Almanack, for 1838: An ephermeris in jest and earnest containing "all things fitting for such a work. by Rigdum Funnidos Gent adorned with a dozen "righte merrie" cuts, pertaining to the months, and an hieroglyphic by George Cruikshank." With a wood engraved vignette of an astrologer wearing a jester's hat. Below: "London: Imprinted for Charles Tilt, Bibliopolist in Fleet Street. Vizetelly, Branston and Co. Printers, Fleet Street."
Contents include tables of fasts, festivals &c, sun and moon rises and sets, "odd matters" and weather for each month with articles at the end of the text. A full page etched illustration plate representing a comic scene of urban life accompanies each month (see 'References and Comments' and 'Subject and Associations' for details of individual illustration plates.) Silhouettes are integrated with the text and wood engraved tailpieces are printed on pages 53 and 57.
The 'hieroglyphic' on page 50 (Reid 3873) represents the Queen of hearts.
1838
Letterpress almanac with etched plates and wood engraved vignette illustrations
- Production date
- 1838
- Dimensions
-
Height: 165 millimetres (approx page height)
-
Width: 100 millimetres (approx page width)
- Curator's comments
- See GW Reid 'A descriptive catalogue of the works of George Cruikshank.' for descriptions of individual illustrations.
Bound in a volume of three editions of 'The Comic Almanack' (1838-40.) For extensive description of original formats and publication history of 'The Comic Almanack.' See AM Cohn 184.
The Department of Prints and Drawings holds a full run of editions from 1835-1853 acquired from a various sources. 184.d.11-18.
For proofs and unmounted versions of the illustration plates in the Department of Prints and Drawings, see:
Reid 1882: Unmounted version, one of a sheet of four illustrations, 1978, U.1398, 1978,U.1399, 1978,U.1400. Proof: 1859,0316.629.
Reid 1883: Unmounted version, one of a sheet of four illustrations, 1978, U.1398, 1978,U.1399, 1978,U.1400. Proof: 1859,0316.630.
Reid 1884: Unmounted version, one of a sheet of four illustrations, 1978, U.1398, 1978,U.1399, 1978,U.1400. Proof: 1859,0316.631.
Reid 1885: Unmounted version, one of a sheet of four illustrations, 1978, U.1398, 1978,U.1399, 1978,U.1400. Proof: 1859,0316.632.
Reid 1886: Unmounted version, one of a sheet of four illustrations 1978, U.1408, 1859,0316.633.
Reid 1887: Unmounted version, one of a sheet of four illustrations 1978, U.1408, 1859,0316.633.
Reid 1888: Unmounted version, one of a sheet of four illustrations 1978, U.1408, 1859,0316.633.
Reid 1889: Unmounted version, one of a sheet of four illustrations 1978, U.1408, 1859,0316.633.
Reid 1890: Unmounted version, one of a sheet of four illustrations 1859, 0316.638, 1978, U.1412, 1978, U.1413.
Reid 1891: Unmounted version, one of a sheet of four illustrations 1859, 0316.638, 1978, U.1412, 1978, U.1413.
Reid 1892: Unmounted version, one of a sheet of four illustrations 1859, 0316.638, 1978, U.1412, 1978, U.1413.
Reid 1893: Unmounted version, one of a sheet of four illustrations 1859, 0316.638, 1978, U.1412, 1978, U.1413.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1856
- Acquisition notes
- Issues of the 'Comic Almanack' for the years 1835-40 were acquired by the British Museum from Mr Miller in 1856.
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1856,0809.21
