GILLRAY, James (1756-1815) - photo 1
GILLRAY, James (1756-1815) - photo 2
GILLRAY, James (1756-1815) - photo 3
GILLRAY, James (1756-1815) - photo 4
GILLRAY, James (1756-1815) - photo 5
GILLRAY, James (1756-1815) - photo 6
GILLRAY, James (1756-1815) - photo 7
GILLRAY, James (1756-1815) - photo 8

GILLRAY, James (1756-1815)

Lot 324
13.07.2023 10:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 16 380
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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Archive
ID 992910
Lot 324 | GILLRAY, James (1756-1815)
Estimate value
£ 10 000 – 15 000
GILLRAY, James (1756-1815)

The Genuine Works of James Gillray, engraved by himself, in two volumes. London: Thomas M'Lean, 1830. [With:] – Illustrative Description of the Genuine Works of Mr. James Gillray. London: Thomas M'Lean, 1830.

First edition, fully hand-coloured, of this monumental second attempt at a definitive collection of the works of James Gillray, the leading caricaturist of the late eighteenth century and an artist of outstanding inventiveness. The father of the political cartoon, Gilray used his sharp eye for humour and wicked draughtsmanship to produce some of the greatest political satire in history. 'Gillray was the artist who introduced wit (as opposed to humour) into English caricature ... Caricature existed in Europe, but to no significant extent; the main conditions which favoured the growth of political caricature -- freedom of expression, party faction, and a sizeable market -- were to be found only in England' (ODNB). The two works were published by Thomas McLean in 1830, fifteen years after the artist's tragic death, and are today rarely found complete or together. The Illustrative Description, which acts as the key to the folio vols, is usually found as one volume only, was a limited edition of only 100 copies: a printed 'Note' usually pasted in on the title-page explained that the high price of the 'Key was owing to the fact that only 100 copies were printed for sale at great expense of time and research’. Bobins V, 1615; Brunet II, 1600; Lowndes III, 894.



Together forming a set of 4 volumes, comprising: Genuine Works: 2 volumes, large folio (572 x 418mm). Title pages with woodcut vignettes, portrait frontispiece in vol. 1, and 576 (of 583, as called for in the Illustrative Description) engraved plates coloured by a contemporary hand and mostly printed double-sided with multiple plates on each sheet, one double-page plate (light scattered spotting, very occasional, marginal, soiling, a few plates trimmed in upper margin); Illustrative Description: 2 volumes, octavo (260 x 175mm) (light spotting, heavier at ends). Contemporary half red morocco over olive water-pattern cloth boards, spines with gilt ruled raised bands, titles lettered in gilt, gilt edges (rebacked with original spines laid down, expert restoration to joints of folio vols., a little rubbed at extremities). Provenance: John Louis Ketterlinus, (1852-1932, owner of the Philadelphia-based Ketterlinus Printing House, later Ketterlinus Lithographic Manufacturing Company; bookplate).





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Artist:James Gillray (1756 - 1815)
Place of origin:Northern Europe, Europe, United Kingdom
Auction house category:Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
13.07.2023
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

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