Real Life in London – Pierce Egan – 1821 | First Edition, 2 Volumes, Color Plates

Known primarily for his extensive account of boxing, Pierce Egan was a well-known and popular British sportswriter. His popularity as an author spurred him to create a recurring monthly journal entitled Life in London in which he employed George Cruikshank to illustrate each edition. It is filled with stories, articles, and accounts of various topics including boxing, parties, and adventure stories while using his own characters Tom & Jerry which inspired the ‘Tom & Jerry’ cartoon characters.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Real Life in London, or, The Rambles and Adventures of Bob Tallyho, Esq. and his cousin the Hon. Tom. Dashall, &c., through the Metropolis
• Author(s): Pierce Egan
• Illustrator(s): George Cruikshank
• Publisher: London, printed for Jones & Co.
• Edition: First edition, 1821
• Format: Octavo (8vo), two volumes
• Binding: Half red Moroccan leather, gilt spine, red cloth boards
• Size: ~ 8.75 in x 5.5 in (21.5 cm x 14 cm)
• Collation: Vol. I: x, 3–656; Vol. II: [2], ix, [3], 3–668
  • Wanting p. 345-392 of Vol. II
• Illustrations: 30 hand-colored plates including frontispieces and title pages (of 33)
• Contents Include:
  • Rambles through Covent Garden
  • Visits to the Theatres and Masquerades
  • Encounters with London’s Underworld
  • Descriptive views of city life, fashion, and folly
• Reference(s): Abbey Travel 280

Condition:

Good. Binding secure with light rubbing to leather at corners and hinges; minor surface wear to cloth boards. Interiors complete and clean with occasional age toning. Plates remain vibrant and well-preserved. Wanting 3 plates and p. 345-392 of Vol. II.

Why Collect This?

• First edition with 30 hand-colored plates

• Cited in Abbey’s bibliography for travel and illustrated works

Item Number: #29145