Last Graphic Pictures by Randolph Caldecott,

London, George Routledge & Sons, 1888. Fair. Hardcover. First Edition. Original binding, paper covered boards with brown cloth spine, very soiled to the background, stains etc can be seen on the paper covering the boards, in spite of the age and use the pictures on the boards are still discernable, gilt title lettering to the spine plain. And readable, boards rubbed at extremities, size 10.75 x 15.00 inches approx landscape, Caldecott was a recognised Victorian illustrator and these are some of his final Graphic illustrations in colour with printed captions beneath them. Brown endpapers, some whitish drop marks on the front pastedown, no frontendpaper, . Book opens with the preliminary title page, this is followed by the frontispiece is a full page fox-hunting scene No.1 Approaching a brook. ' shadowy vertical mark to the left of the picture although this is not very obvious, the title page is opposite the frontispiece it is highlighted with a small coloured vignette of ladies walking passed some rather ominous trees, in the initial story Scenes from the Mickledale Hunt there are four fox hunting scenes, 71 numbered pages in the book, 35 pages of pictures printed on one side of the page leaving the reverse blank. , ``Contents include: "Scenes with the old Mickledale Hunt", "A Lover's Quarrel", "The Legend of the Laughing Oak", "The Strange Adventures of a Dog Cart", and "The Curmudgeons' Christmas". Internally, the contents is reasonably clean there is slight evidence of handling marks to the extreme edges the pages but in general the pictures are very presentable and delghtful to see. The binding is slightly fragile but in spite of its age and use it is secured. Within the book there is some difference in the colours portrayed for instance the foxhunter's jackets are more pink than red in a few of them. This is possbly due to the materials being used. A charming reminder of byegone times and the talents of those whose skill brought scenes to life for their readers. There is lots of English humour, colour, characterisation and interest in whatever Caldecott is depicting. He captures the essence of the times so well. .