John Bull (Charles Lamb) — The Laughing Philosopher

London, Sherwood, Jones, & Co. 1825. First edition. Leather. An attractive first edition of this scarce work of 'wit', compiled anonymously by Charles Lamb and Thomas Hood, from the Selbourne collection. The work is a selection of satirical pieces with contemporary society and recent history for their subject. Sometimes poetry, and sometimes prose, they reflect a learned, irreverant, and ironical contemporary view on the Britain of the early 19th century. Thomas Hood was a poet and humorist, who wrote for The London Magazine, the Athaneum, and Punch. He is thought to be the principle creative force behind this volume. William Michael Rossetti in 1903 called him "the finest English poet" between the generations of Shelley and Tennyson Lamb was a writer and essayist, and is best known for his Essays of Elia, and a childrens book he wrote with his sister called Tales from Shakespeare. He was friends with the poets Coleridge and Wordsworth, and was a significant member of contemporary literary society in England. It is thought that he assisted Hood in the compilation of the work. This copy contains a number of newspaper clippings inserted, noting that a Mr Walter Jerrold wrote an article in the Cornhill Magazine in 1924, "in which he points out that it contains several of Charles Lamb's essays..and that Lamb wrote the amusing prologue". Direct from the library of the late Hugh Selbourne MD (1906-1973) a noted book collector and diarist. In full morocco with a gilt motiff to the front board and gilt lettering to the spine. Externally excellent with just a little rubbing to the extremities. With a bookseller's plate to the front pastedowns. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are generally clean, with light spotting to the first and last few pages as usual. The pages are slightly cockled. Near Fine . Ill.: Unamed. Near Fine .