London: Bradbury & Evans, 1864. First edition. Handsomely bound, ca. 1920s, by Rivière & Sons (stamp-signed to upper turn-in) in emerald green crushed morocco with original cloth bound in. French fillets. Five gilt ruled raised bands, six elaborately gilt decorated compartments. Wide, gilt turn-ins. Double ruled edges. All edges gilt. [8], 173, [1, blank], [2, adverts] pages. Thirteen black and white plates including frontispiece. A few small stains to upper cover, light spots of foxing to two leaves, otherwise a fine and most handsomely bound copy.

Featuring fourteen short stories in the sporting fiction genre written in their entirety (rather than merely edited) by journalist, novelist, playwright and actor Mark Lemon (1809-1870). Lemon was co-founder and for 30 years editor of Punch; Tom Moody was a pseudonym first adopted by Lemon in 1834 for a series of pieces that appeared in the New Sporting Magazine. As an actor he appeared in his friend Charles Dickens's private theatricals at Tavistock House. He was a friend of illustrator George Cruikshank, Wm. Makepeace Thackeray, and many other lights of his day. In short, he stood near the center of London's intellectual circle.

Of Hablot K. Brown, the illustrator known as Phiz who was Dicken's primary illustrator, little need be added here. His illustrations for each of the stories herein possess all the amusing charm that he is known for.

CBEL, p. 2006. (Item #3673)