The Bab ballads, with which are included Songs of a Savoyard

Macmillan, 1926. leather_bound. Very Good. 0x0x0. 1926 sixth edition Macmillan (London), 5 1/8 x 7 1/2 inches tall x 1 1/2 inches thick blue full leather bound (a signed Sangorski and Sutcliffe binding), gilt-ruled boards. five raised bands and detailed gilt decoration of spine, gilt-lettered red leather labels to spine, all page edges gilt, gilt dentelles framing pastedowns, pattern endpapers, copiously illustrated with drawings of the author, xii, 564 pp. Slight to moderate soiling, rubbing and edgewear to covers, with chipping to the leather along the hinges even though the binding is quite solid. Inside, a very good to near fine copy - clean, bright and unmarked. ~U~ [1.5P] A collection of light verses by W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911), illustrated with his own comic drawings. The book takes its title from Gilbert's childhood nickname. He later began to sign his illustrations "Bab". Gilbert wrote the 'ballads' collected in the book before he became famous for his comic opera librettos with Arthur Sullivan. In writing these verses Gilbert developed his 'topsy-turvy' style in which the humor is derived by setting up a ridiculous premise and working out its logical consequences, however absurd. The ballads also reveal Gilbert's cynical and satirical approach to humor.