Three Courses and a Dessert, William Clarke — 3rd Edition

£98.50

Three Courses and a Dessert, William Clarke — 3rd Edition

Name: Three Courses and a Dessert, William Clarke — 3rd Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4385
Price: 98.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication London, Vizetelly, Branston & Co., 1836

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 432.

Condition Report Good. Bound in full calf leather featuring gilt-ruled borders and a ribbed spine with a contrasting title label. The binding remains fully intact, though the boards exhibit shelf-wear, scuffing, and minor dark staining, particularly to the front panel. The spine ends show minor chipping and rubbing, and the gilt tooling has moderately oxidised over time. The page edges are subtly darkened and speckled. Internally, the hinges hold firm, though the pages present moderate foxing and age-toning, most prominent across the preliminary leaves, frontispiece, and title page. A previous owner's ink signature sits neatly on the front free endpaper, alongside a neat pencil annotation to the frontispiece margin; however, the main text block remains legible and well-preserved, fully justifying its grade as a sound, authentic copy.

Catalogue Note This Third Edition offers a charming, early presentation of William Clarke's popular compilation of regional tales. First published at the beginning of the decade, the work gained immense popularity due in large part to its vivid portrayal of country life and character sketches.

The volume is distinguished by its fifty-one woodcut illustrations by the celebrated artist George Cruikshank. Known as the "modern Hogarth," Cruikshank's comedic genius shines through these plates, perfectly complementing the dialect and eccentricities of Clarke's characters. The frontispiece bears an intriguing period pencil annotation identifying one of the story's notable characters.

The book carries provenance in the form of an early twentieth-century ownership signature on the front free endpaper. Early editions bound in full leather remain highly collectible for enthusiasts of Georgian humour and Cruikshank's illustrative mastery.

A lively collection of regional tales divided into three main 'courses'—West Country, Irish, and Legal—followed by a varied 'melange' for dessert. Penned by William Clarke, the narratives capture the vibrant dialect, humor, and social eccentricities of early nineteenth-century British and Irish life. Brought to vivid life through the masterful, comedic woodcut illustrations of George Cruikshank, this collection remains a delightful window into the character and wit of the era.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: William Clarke

Book Publisher: Vizetelly, Branston & Co

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Anthologies & Short Stories

Book edition: Third Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 432

Book Publication Year: 1836

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover (Full Calf Leather)

Illustrator: George Cruikshank

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.