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CRUIKSHANK, George (illus.); [THACKERAY, William Makepeace.]

The Comic Almanack, For 1839 [1840]: an ephemeris in jest and earnest, containing "all things fitting for such a work."

By Rigdum Funnidos, Gent. Adorned with a dozen of "righte merrie" cuts, pertaining to the months, and an hieroglyphic, by George Cruikshank.

First editions. These are the only two annual volumes of Cruikshank's Comic Almanack for which William Makepeace Thackeray supplied stories: "Stubbs's Calendar; or, the Fatal Boots" in 1839, and "Barber Cox, and the Cutting of his Comb" in 1840. In each case, this is the first publication of the story. Founded in 1835, Cruikshank's comic annual went well in its early years, but from December 1844 had competition from a blatant imitator, Punch's Almanack, and ceased publication in 1853.

2 volumes, small octavo. Original pictorial wrappers, the volume for 1839 printed in dark blue, that for 1840 in sepia. The two volumes protected in a dark olive crushed morocco pull-off case, spine richly gilt, and silk-covered paper chemise (chemise chipped). Bookplates of the Thackeray collector and bibliographer Henry S. Van Duzer. Front cover of 1839 cleanly detached but present, wrappers slightly dust-soiled, the contents fine.

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