Robert Blakey — Old Faces in New Masks

London, W. Kent and Co, 1859. First edition. Cloth. An uncommon first edition of this intriguing collection of essays - some concerning fish - including 'Fishwives', 'Dances of Death' and 'Historical Sketch of British Caricature&apos. Bound in red cloth with gilt lettering and decoration, and blindstamped decoration. Robert Blakey (1795-1878) was an English radical, historian of philosophy, writer and angler. The graphic artist George Cruikshank illustrated a number of Charles Dickens' works. In a cloth binding. Externally worn. Rubbed to extremities and bumped to head and tail of spine. Fading to spine and and marling to boards. Front hinge strained but firm. Internally generally firmly bound, showings cords in places. Pages generally bright and clean, with slight age toning to edges. Light spotting to first and last few pages, and foxing to illustrated frontispiece and title page. Library issue label to front pastedown and a gilt shelfmark to the spine. Good Only . Ill.: George Cruikshank. Good Only .