ROWLANDSON, Thomas (1756-1827), artist and John C. HOTTEN (1832-1873), author and publisher
Lot 331

ROWLANDSON, Thomas (1756-1827), artist and John C. HOTTEN (1832-1873), author and publisher

[Pretty Little Games for Young Ladies and Gentlemen. With pictures of good old English sports and pastimes. London: J.C. Hotten, 1845 but c. 1872.]

Closed13 July 2023

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GBP 6,048

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ROWLANDSON, Thomas (1756-1827), artist and John C. HOTTEN (1832-1873), author and publisher
[Pretty Little Games for Young Ladies and Gentlemen. With pictures of good old English sports and pastimes. London: J.C. Hotten, 1845 but c. 1872.]
Extremely rare, only 100 copies printed and very few hand-coloured, this suite of erotic etchings by Rowlandson was published clandestinely by John Camden Hotten, who also wrote the obscene verse that accompanies the etchings. Thomas Rowlandson circulated his erotic engravings individually and on demand, only among a small circle of friends and collectors. Ashbee Centuria, pp. 346-354; Bobins IV, 1355; Gay-Lenmonnyer III, 845; Kearney 1607; Pisanus, The Encyclopedia of Erotic Literature, II, pp. 346-354.

Small quarto (226 x 170mm). 10 etchings by Rowlandson and coloured by a comtemporary hand, with 62pp. of letterpress, unbound in three gatherings as issued (very light spotting). Contemporary red cloth and red half morocco folder over marble boards folder (extremities lightly rubbed).