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

London, Bradbury and Evans, 1853. First edition. Cloth. The first edition of R. S. Surtees' complete Mr. Sponge story in book form, with thirteen coloured plates engraved on steel and numerous woodcut illustrations by John Leech. The first edition of R. S. Surtees' Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour in book form, a collection of the complete original thirteen monthly parts. In the publisher's original cloth binding with thirteen coloured plates engraved on steel and numerous woodcut illustrations by John Leech. Collated, complete. Mixed issue, with the first state dedication to Lord Elcho, before its correction to Earl Elcho in later publications but with black text to endpapers.  Renowned for his sporting novels Jorrock's Jaunts and Jollities (1838) and Handley Cross (1843), R. S. Surtees' Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour is a humorous satire on the life of an English hunting man. Contains a page of original publisher's advertisements at the front of the work and ten more to the rear.  In the original publisher's cloth binding. Externally, generally smart. Bumping to the head and tail of the spine and to the extremities and marks to the boards. Front hinge slightly strained. Slight fading to spine. Internally, binding is slightly strained. Pages are generally age-toned throughout with the odd spot heavier to the first and last pages. Good . Ill.: John Leech. Good .