Beschreibung:

GILBERT, Sir William Schwenck (1836-1911). The "Bab" Ballads. Much Sound and Little Sense. London: John Camden Hotten, 1869-- More "Bab" Ballads. Much Sound and Little Sense . London & New York: George Routledge & Sons, [1873]. 2 works in 2 volumes, 8° (182 x 131mm). Half-title in 2nd work, publishers' advertisements at the end of each volume. Wood-engraved frontispieces and illustrations. Cosway-style binding in 20th-century red morocco gilt by Bayntun (Riviere), covers with central oval recessed panels, each panel containing one or two figures moulded in relief in coloured onlaid leathers depicting Lorenzo de Lardy and Madmoiselle de la Sauce Mayonnaise; Policeman Peter Forth and a country bumpkin; Sir Barnaby Bampton Boo; and the Sailor Boy and his lass Matilda, all after the author's illustrations in the book, each recessed panel surrounded by a broad shaped frame of a variety of small gilt tools, with an outer border of gilt double fillets, the inner fillet incorporating ornamental gilt cornerpieces of small tools, spines in six compartments with raised bands, lettered in the second and fourth, the others repeat pattern of various small tools, gilt turn-ins, marbled-paper endleaves, the first work with original green cloth covers bound at the back, gilt edges. FIRST EDITIONS OF BOTH WORKS. For a binding employing the same techniques and many of the same tools see Christie's New York, 'Chevalier Collection' lot 57, 9 November, 1990. (2)