Henry Mayhew [Ed.] — The Comic Almanack and Diary

London, David Bogue, 1850 . First edition. Cloth. The first edition of the 1850 Comic Almanack, Henry Mayhew's lively satirical annual illustrated throughout by George Cruikshank. In a contemporary full cloth binding.  The first edition of the 1850 issue of The Comic Almanack and Diary, part of the celebrated humorous annual published from 1835 to 1853.   Illustrated by George Cruikshank with a large hand-coloured folding frontispiece, six further etched plates and numerous humorous illustrations throughout. Collated, complete.  With calendar and diary sections, including ruled monthly memorandum leaves, and the publisher's twenty-four-page catalogue bound to the rear. Henry Mayhew (1812-1887) was an English journalist, playwright and social reformer, a co-founder of Punch and later the author of the pioneering social survey London Labour and the London Poor.     In a contemporary full cloth binding. Externally, sound. Fading to spine and extremities. Light spotting to perimeters of boards with one or two minor handling marks. The odd light damp staining mark to rear board and to tail of spine. Slight rubbing and bumping to extremities, heavier to spine ends with minor loss, fraying, and tearing to cloth. Slight lifting to small portion of cloth at head of spine. Contemporary shelf annotations to front paste down and front free endpaper. Light scattered spotting to endpapers. Internally, firmly bound. Pages slightly age toned with the odd light spot. Slight edge wear to folding frontispiece with slight loss and closed tearing, not affecting the image. Minor tide marking to fore edge of plate facing p.16. Minor edge wear to the odd leaf. Very Good . Ill.: George Cruikshank. Very Good .