Plain or Ringlets?: By the Author of "Handley Cross", "Sponge's Sporting Tour", "Ask Mamma", Etc. Etc.

London: Bradbury & Evans,, 1860. First edition in book form, following publication in 13 monthly parts between 1859 and 1860, of the last novel to be published in Surtees's lifetime. Leech's humorous illustrations and his "caricatured but more modern approach [were] the perfect foil to Surtees's writing" (ODNB). Surtees's (1805-64) novels revolve around British field sports. His "sharp, authentic descriptions of the hunting field have retained their popularity among fox-hunters" and "his mordant observations on men, women, and manners; his entertaining array of eccentrics, rakes, and rogues; his skill in the construction of lively dialogue (a matter over which he took great pains); his happy genius for unforgettable and quotable phrases… have won him successive generations of devoted followers" (ODNB). Octavo. Original vertical-ribbed reddish brown cloth, spine lettered and decorated in gilt, ornate blind border to covers, gilt design to front cover, yellow coated endpapers. Engraved title page, 12 engraved plates, all with contemporary hand-colouring, 44 engraved illustrations in text. Spine faded with a few nicks and small chips at ends, sides bright, extremities lightly rubbed, foxing to endpapers and a few initial and final leaves, verso of last leaf browned, otherwise generally bright and clean. A very good copy. Tooley 477; Wolff 6636.