[Rarebooks] "The American Cruikshank" (1838)

[Joslin Hall Rare Books, ABAA]

(Johnston, David Claypool) Neal, Joseph C. CHARCOAL SKETCHES; OR, SCENES
IN A METROPOLIS.

Philadelphia; E.L. Carey and A. Hart: 1838.

A series of amusing, satirical or pointed sketches of city life,
illustrated with 4 reproductions of etchings by David Claypool Johnston.
Many of Neal's pieces had originally appeared as the newspaper column
"City Worthies", and although the elaborate 1830s phraseology may not
appeal to the funny bone of modern readers, the sketches are filled with
interesting detail and "flavor" of the period. Of equal interest are the
four satirical drawings by David Claypool Johnston, one of the most
popular illustrators of the day. Dubbed "The American Cruikshank",
Johnston had supplemented his income by acting early in his career, but by
the time of "Charcoal Sketches" his work could be seen in many magazines,
on sheet music, and illustrating books.

Neal gave Johnston surprising freedom in producing the illustrations for
this book; in an 1837 letter mentioned by the American Antiquarian
Society, Neal lets Johnston loose, telling him "By pleasing yourself, you
are most likely to please us." Indeed, in the Introduction Neal notes-
"Whether the letter-press be amusing or not, the illustrations by Johnston
are replete with humour and graphic skill. They who yawn in the perusal of
our pages, can therefore turn for refreshment to the comicalities of the
etcher, and excuse the dullness perpetrated by the pen, in laughing over
the quaint characteristics embodied by our American Cruikshank".

Hardcover. 5"x7.5", 222 pages, 4 plates; original cloth covers with an
embossed clover pattern; covers soiled and worn, spine label chipped,
spine head pulled, pages foxed and binding slightly shaken. Could be
better, but still interesting. [05115] $100.00

Illustration-
<http://www.joslinhall.com/images03/th-05115.jpg>


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