William Harrison Ainsworth — Jack Sheppard a Romance

London, Richard Bentley, 1839. First edition. Leather. A thrilling first edition of Ainsworth's novel, based on the life of notorious London criminal Jack sheppard; fantastically illustrated by Cruikshank. The first book edition of Ainsworth's novel, based on the life of eighteenth-century criminal, Jack Sheppard. Published in serial in Bentley's Miscellany from 1839 to 1840. Attractively rebound in half morocco with marbled paper covers, endpapers renewed.Illustrated by George Cruikshank with twenty-six egnraved illustrations over three volumes. Lacking the frontispiece to volume I and a plate opposing p. 82 in volume III.Half title to volume III, with publisher's advertisement to reverse, as called for. The exciting story of one of Tyburn's greatest convicts, told in three epochs. Bound in half morocco. Exteranlly, very smart. Only very minor shelf wear or rubbing to spine bands and extremities. Rebound with endpapers renewed. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright with the odd closed tear, mild soiling and handling marks. Archival repair to pages and plates. Small tear and lost to upper extremity, p. 3 volume I. Closed tear p. 172 volume II, archivally repaired. Loss to lower corner of plate opposing p. 42 and closed tear to final plate, volume III both archivally repaired. The odd spot to pages. The occasional chip or closed tear to pages. Minor age toning throughout. Lacking the frontispiece to volume I and another plate from volume III. Good . Ill.: George Cruikshank. Good .