Handley Cross, or, Mr. Jorrock's Hunts

London: Bradbury and Evans, 1854. First Edition thus. Full Morocco. Very Good Minus. John Leech. First edition, first issue, with Leech illustrations. And Leech's name is mentioned in the preface. Bound in full red crushed morocco by Bayntun. 8vo. 21.5 by 14 cm. viii, 550, [2] pp. 17 hand-colored steel engraved plates by Leech. Many more wood engraved illustrations interspersed abundantly within text. The binding was probably done around 1900, with the original spine preserved and mounted onto the replacement. While surely an effort was made to match the color of the original binding, the spine is now closer to brown, and dark brown, than the bright red of the boards. The spine also looks gooped -- we doubt it was anywhere near pristine at the time of the restoration, and perhaps the restoration operation took a toll on it as well, as the gilt ruling doesn't entirely line up, etc. The edge of the boards, or the joint area, has also some of this messiness. Otherwise, minor markings on the boards. The leaves within are age toned, with scattered light foxing, but mostly clean. (Inventory #: 008170)