Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe - 1852

London - Cassell & Company, 1852 Book. Very Good. Hardcover. The first English authorised edition of Uncle Tom's Cabin, illustrated by George Cruikshank. Having been published a number of times without authorisation in Britain, this is the first official English edition, and is notable both for that and its illustrations. Cruikshank is one of the most significant british illustrators: during his own life he was praised as the modern Hogarth , and books that feature his illustrations are often collectible on his account. He was best known for his caricatures of contemporary English life, and was feared by many members of the establishment for his satirical flair. He is considered today to have been racist in his attitude towards and portrayal of foreigners, particularly African-Americans. His illustrations for the anti-abolitionist 'New Union Club' are particularly striking in this regard. That he provided the illustrations for this work is therefore interesting; it was seen as a clarion call to the abolishment of slavery, and is credited evenwith laying the groundwork for the Americancivil war. The crude racial stereotypes certainly appear to have been at leastameliorated for it. From the library of John Lewis, FSIA. Lewis was a tutor in typography at the Royal College of Art. He was also the founder of the Lion & Unicorn Press. The enterprise aimed to capture the sentiment of Richard Guyatt's inaugural lecture delivered at the Royal Society of Arts in 1950. Condition: In half morocco with gilt detailing and titles to the spine. Externally smart, with some rubbing to the extremities and around the head and tail of the spine. The spine is very slightly faded. Overall a nice patina has been retained. With a personal bookplate to the front pastedown. Internally the blanks are a little foxed, and the frontispiece has slightly offset. Otherwise, however, remarkably clean and bright, and firmly bound. Some slight cockling, however. Overall: VERY GOOD.