book(See comments);
book-illustration(See comments);
newspaper/periodical(See comments);
print
- Museum number
- 1870,1210.206-224
- Description
-
'The wit's album.' A Letterpress periodical, collated as a book with etched, aquatinted illustrations containing comic verses and articles with illustrations by Robert Cruikshank. In a cardboard binding, lettered on the title-page:
"The wit's album; or pine-apple of literature: Being an extensive repository of wit, humour and eccentricity: combining the cream of all the well seasoned jests, curious relations, droll doings, strange stories, sprightly sayings, witticisms, epigrams and bon mots, which have been recorded in the last century, and cannot be exceeded in the age to come. Embellished with copper-plate etchings by R. Cruikshank; aqua-tinted by Joseph Gleadah. London: Printed and published by John Duncombe, 19 Little Queen Street, Holborn; and sold by all booksellers in town and country."
1. The frontispiece represents a boy selling fruit standing beside a gentleman. Lettered below the image "D. Baker Fect. Printed by N. Chater & Co."
Etched illustrations depicting comic scenes accompany verses and articles throughout. They are sized to fit half a page and are printed above the title of the accompanying text which is printed in bold lettering. Each illustration is numbered at the foot of the page, except for the frontipiece. The illustrations are listed below.
circa 1829
Letterpress, etching and aquatint
Illustrations:
1.'The farmer's wife and the Gascon.' p.19
2. 'A delicate morsel.' p.35
3. 'Modern learning. Exemplified in the form of a college examination. a jeu d'esprit.' p.51
4. 'The missionary and Indian.' p.67
5. 'The bishop and the courtezan.' p.83
6. 'The unlucky draught.' p.99
7. 'Snip and his rib; or, orator Jerry.' p.115
8. 'The disappointment.' p.131
9. 'The picture.' p.147
10. 'One good turn deserves another.' p.163
11. 'Bombastes and velveteen.' p.179
12. 'The adventures of Daniel O'Rourke.' p.195
13. 'Richard and Betty at Hickleton Fair.' p.211
14. 'The sick woman and the almanack.' p.227
15. 'The Frenchman and the rats.' p.243
16. 'Sally Rodgers.' p.259
17. 'Nutmegs and Allspice.' p.275
18. 'The one-legged goose.' p.307
- Production date
- 1829
- Dimensions
-
Height: 223 millimetres (approx. page height (note variation in page size))
-
Width: 135 millimetres (approx. page width (note variation in page size))
- Curator's comments
- It appears that 'The wit's album was originally published in individual issues' as each illustration is numbered. An inscription on the side of page 9 reads: "No.2- price 3d- printed and published by Duncombe, 19 Little Queen Street, Holborn, and sold by Sherwood and Co. Paternoster Row." However, the title-page, index and consecutive page numbering in this volume suggests that these issues have been published together as one book.
The date is not provided on this edition but a copy in the British Library is dated 1829.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- In fragile condition with loose frontispiece.
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1870,1210.206-224
