Robert Smith Surtees — Mr. Sponge&Apos;S Sporting Tour

London, Bradbury, Agnew, & Co, c1870. Cloth. A colourfully illustrated edition of one of Surtees' popular sporting novels. "Mr Sponge"s Sporting Tour" follows the adventures of a grocer who becomes the Master of Fox Hounds, a comical social commentary of sporting life in the country.Illustrated with a hand-coloured frontispiece, hand-coloured vignette title, twelve hand coloured plates, and in-text wood engravings.Collated, complete.Robert Smith Surtees was a popular sporting writer, beginning his writing career by contributing to the "Sporting Magazine". His best novel is often considered to be "Mr Sponge"s Sporting Tour", with his hero, Soapey Sponge, being as popular as his comic character Jorrocks, featured in numerous novels, including "Handley Cross". His comical novels are engaging and witty, with his writing style and character sometimes being compared to Charles Dickens.Illustrated by John Leech, a caricaturist best known for his work for 'Punch&apos. His scathing portrayal of current events led to a great popularity of his work. He also illustrated edition of Charles Dickens' works.Undated, dated from copies on Copac held at the National Trust, and also by the publisher's address; Bradbury, Agnew & Co were based at 8, 9, 10 Bouverie St around 1867 to 1873, based on information from the British Library. In the original publisher's cloth binding. Externally, generally smart. Damp stain to the front board and spine. A few other light marks to the cloth, including a ring mark to the front board. Minor bumping to the head and tail of the spine and to the extremities. Front hinge is strained. Gift inscription to the front paste down. Light marks to the front paste down and endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean, with only a few scattered spots. Good . Ill.: John Leech. Good .