The Comic History of England, in two volumes, and The Comic History of Rome bound to match, by A'Beckett. Illustrated by John Leech

In attractive matching bindings, A'Beckett's Comic History of London, as illustrated by John Leech with 20 full-page color steel engravings and 240 in-line woodcuts. Also, a bound-to-match The Comic History of Rome with 10 full-page color steel engravings and numerous in-line woodcuts.

Much like the modern Horrible Histories, this seminal work gently pokes fun at the history of the United Kingdom, and Rome, with exceptional humorous illustrations to accompany the stories.

This edition with no copyright date, but assuredly from the late 19th century.

Bindings by Estes and Lauriat, of Boston, per stamps on blank endpapers.

Physical Attributes -

Each volume measures approx. 22.5 x 15 x 2.5 cm. Green leather spines and corners, ruled in gilt, with marbled paper covering the hardcover boards. Spines with five raised bands; title, author and "London" in gilt in the compartments. Top edges gilt. Marbled endpapers. Illustrated. Pages: v1 - xviii, 320, v2 - 304, Rome - xii, 308

Condition -

See pictures. Attractive bindings, but with some wear at the edges, joints, and corners. Also, light crazing at joints, and sunning to spines (as is typical for green bindings). Toning to paper throughout, more to plates. A note explaining each work at the front blank endpaper, in graphite, and some bookseller notes (numbers, etc.). "Rome" with the ex-libris plate of Eugene Grosman. Occasional fox spot. No tissue guards in place. Book binder stamps on the verso of each flyleaf.