William Harrison Ainsworth — Windsor Castle

London, Henry Colburn, 1843 . First edition. Leather. Illustrated throughout with plates by George Cruikshank, this is the first single volume edition of Ainsworth's gothic historical novel about Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. The first single volume edition of this work; it had initially been published serially, and then in three volumes.Illustrated by George Cruikshank, Tony Johannot, and W. Alfred Delamotte with an engraved frontispiece and title page, alongside twenty-one further plates. With further vignettes throughout. Collated, complete.This is a historical and gothic romance which depicts Henry VIII's pursuit of Anne Boleyn. Alongside the main storyline there is a sub plot with the story of the actions of Herne the Hunter, a legendary ghost that haunts Windsor Woods. Inscription to a front blank. In a half morocco binding, with cloth covered boards. Rubbing to back strip head and tail, raised bands and board perimeters. Inscription to a front blank. Internally, generally firmly bound, but with one text leaf detached and loosely inserted. Pages lightly age toned, with significant handling marks and spotting throughout. Tape repairs to fore edge of frontispiece and engraved title page. Tape repairs to closed tears of two further leaves. Good . Ill.: George Cruikshank; Tony Johannot; W. Alfred Delamotte. Good .