The New Comic Annual, Anonymous — 1st Edition

£45.00

The New Comic Annual, Anonymous — 1st Edition

Name: The New Comic Annual, Anonymous — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4468
Price: 45.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Hurst, Chance, and Co., [1830]

Formatting: 12mo, pp. [xvi], 176.

Condition Report: Good. While the text block remains sound and securely attached, the binding exhibits moderate exterior wear. The contemporary quarter calf over marbled boards is noticeably rubbed, with localised paper loss to the boards, most prominently at the margins, and bumped, softened corners. The spine features a gilt-lettered label reading "COMIC ANNUAL," though the spine ends are significantly chipped with some structural loss to the leather, and the joints are visibly rubbed despite remaining firmly attached. All edges are gilt. Internally, the book is relatively well-preserved for a popular humour annual of this period; the leaves show mild, age-appropriate toning and scattered foxing, but remain largely clean and highly readable without any major tears or structural weaknesses to the pages.

Catalogue Note: This First Edition was brought to the market as a direct competitor to Thomas Hood’s highly successful annual of the same name. It is affectionately referred to as "Falstaff's Comic Annual" due to the distinctive title-page vignette of the Shakespearean character, accompanied by the quote, "You are merry, so am I; Ha! ha! then there's more sympathy."

Boasting one hundred highly humorous cuts to complement its satirical contents, the volume is often erroneously attributed to Hood due to its confusingly similar title and format. Instead, it stands as a distinct and historically charming artefact of the fierce publishing rivalries in 19th-century London. Surviving copies in their original contemporary bindings are becoming increasingly scarce on the open market.

Produced during the zenith of the British literary annual, The New Comic Annual offers a delightful romp through 19th-century humour. Packed with satirical verse, witty prose, and wonderfully expressive woodcuts, this diminutive volume serves as a brilliant time capsule of late-Georgian comedy, guaranteed to elicit a smile from the modern reader just as it did nearly two centuries ago.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Anonymous

Book Publisher: Hurst, Chance, and Co.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Humour

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 192

Book Publication Year: 1830

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover (Quarter Calf)

Illustrator: Anonymous

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.