English Dance of Death [WITH] The Dance of Life, a Poem

London: Printed by J. Diggens / Published at R. Ackermann's Repository of Arts, 1814. Very Good. London: Printed by J. Diggens / Published at R. Ackermann's Repository of Arts, 1814-1817. First Editions. Three volumes; octavos (26cm.); contemporary calf over paper-covered boards, black gilt spine labels (the earlier two volumes bound with marbled paper-covered boards, the latter volume bound with elements of one of the original fascicle wrappers), all margins remain untrimmed, the set housed in modern cloth slipcase; [4],vii,[5],295,[1]; [6],299,[1]; [2],ii,ii,285,[3]pp.; the first and third volume bound with hand-colored aquatint frontispiece and added title page, ninety-six hand-colored plates totaling one hundred (100) hand-colored plates, collated and complete. Boards a bit scuffed, joints discreetly reinforced, half title present in Vol. I only as usual, brief ownership signature to front pastedown of latter two volumes, offsetting from plates, else a Very Good, quite attractive set uncommon in contemporary binding.

One of the final projects on which William Combe contributed before his death in 1823, these two works following shortly after the success of "The Tour of Doctor Syntax." The text was written in conjunction with Thomas Rowlandson's rollicking suite of engravings, in which no member of English society was free of ridicule. "The illustrated books underline Rowlandson's extraordinary range. He was as much a master of the lyrical watercolour of rolling countryside as of the incisive caricature. A specialist in urban topography, though more interested in the picturesque than in exactitude, he was portraitist, social commentator, and sporting artist. Above all, he reveled in the comedy of everyday life, emphasizing the ridiculous and the ribald in his inventions, poking fun but avoiding emotion and satire" (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography).

GROLIER ROWLANDSON 32 & 38; TOOLEY 410 & 411.