Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi (Extra Illustrated)
- London: Richard Bentley, 1838
London: Richard Bentley, 1838. First edition. First issue, with no border around final plate and correct page listing in list of "Embellishments." Two octavo volumes (7 1/2 x 4 5/8 inches; 191 x 117 mm.). [i]-xix, [xx, blank], 288 pp; [i-ix, [x, blank], 263, [264, printers imprint]. Engraved frontispiece portrait in volume I, and twelve engraved plates by George Cruikshank. The frontispiece to each volume hand-colored (volume I. "Joseph Grimaldi" & Volume II. "Grimaldi's kindness to the Giant"). Extra illustrated by the insertion of forty-eight engraved plates, eighteen of which are hand colored. Six of the hand colored plates are by F.W. Pailthorpe; six by Isaac Cruikshank? and two by George Cruikshank--all three of these artists are famous Dickens illustrators. Bound ca. 1920 by Bayntun, stamp-signed in gilt "Bayntun. Binder. Bath. Eng." on rear silk endleaves. Bound in full forest green crushed levant morocco, covers triple-ruled in gilt surrounding a thin inlaid border of black morocco. Spines with five raised bands, decoratively bordered in black and gilt in compartments, gilt lettering, gilt board edges and decorative gilt turn-ins. Front and back doublures of each volume with a superb figure and background inlaid in various colored morocco's. The four inlaid designs include "Gaby Grin, The Eccentric Clown," and three other characters from the book. Green watered silk endleaves, all edges gilt. Spines very slightly darkened otherwise very fine. Housed in the original, fleece-lined, green cloth slipcase. A spectacular example of a pair of early Bayntun bindings, typical of the firm's first-rate work and use of the best materials.
Joseph Grimaldi (1779-1837) was considered "the most celebrated of English clowns" famous for his pantomime skills (Britannica). Purportedly an autobiography edited by Dickens, scholars have debated the extent of his authorial role: Forster claims he wrote the introductory chapter, Eckel says the last, and Bentley argues a significant portion of the book. It is for a discerning reader to parse Grimaldi from Dickens, nevertheless it makes for an entertaining read.
George Bayntun (1873-1940) was the founder of Bayntun Bindery. Trained by apprenticeship with the Taylor family, Bayntun opened his own book bindery in 1894 dedicated to using traditional hand-crafted techniques and high-quality materials. The Bath-based firm acquired the Rivière Bindery (also based in Bath) in 1939, transforming into the “Bayntun-Riviere bindery,” which is still in existence and family owned.
Gimbel B64. Eckel pp. 140-2.
Joseph Grimaldi (1779-1837) was considered "the most celebrated of English clowns" famous for his pantomime skills (Britannica). Purportedly an autobiography edited by Dickens, scholars have debated the extent of his authorial role: Forster claims he wrote the introductory chapter, Eckel says the last, and Bentley argues a significant portion of the book. It is for a discerning reader to parse Grimaldi from Dickens, nevertheless it makes for an entertaining read.
George Bayntun (1873-1940) was the founder of Bayntun Bindery. Trained by apprenticeship with the Taylor family, Bayntun opened his own book bindery in 1894 dedicated to using traditional hand-crafted techniques and high-quality materials. The Bath-based firm acquired the Rivière Bindery (also based in Bath) in 1939, transforming into the “Bayntun-Riviere bindery,” which is still in existence and family owned.
Gimbel B64. Eckel pp. 140-2.