Takings, or, the LIfe of a Collegian. A Poem: Illustrated by twenty-six etchings from Designs by Richard Dagley

Very good copy of Richard Dagley's first foray into caricature

With 26 comical illustrations from the life of a young wastrel in Regency England, most engraved by William Henry Brookes

With 2-page dedication, 3-page advertisement, 32-page essay Miscellaneous Observations on the Ludicrous in Art all by Dagley, and 4-page introduction in poetry and 180-page poem by Gaspey.

According to the preface, it was the author of Flim-Flams! [Isaac D'Israeli], who encouraged Dagley to experiment with comedy. Later, "an ingenious friend" suggested he used the word "Taking" to stimulate further practice. The result is seen here in these commissioned illustrations for Thomas Gaspey's doggerel adventure.

A young student, Tom Takeall, ignores his father's advice and sets off on a disastrous series of adventures. He is depicted riding dangerously, spending lavishly on clothes, losing bets on the horses, getting robbed in the theatre, boxing with a prizefighter, eloping with a young woman and then pistol-dueling with her brother, targeted by pickpockets in London, experiencing poverty, witnessing debt, prison and hangings, before finally settling down and finding bliss with the birth of his child.

A typical Regency gentleman's rite of passage in the Thomas Rowlandson style, but with rather stiff and static execution.

Richard Dagley (c.1761-1841) was an English subject painter who exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1784-1806 and 1815-1833. Brought up at Christ's Hospital for orphans, he worked variously as a jewelry enameler, drawing tutor, book illustrator and engraver. His other works include Flim-Flams! 1805, A Compendium of the Theory and Practice of Drawing and Painting 1818, Gems, Principally from the Antique 1822, and Death's Doings 1826

Thomas Gaspey (1788-1871) was a prolific English journalist, editor and novelist. He started writing verses for pocket books before becoming a reporter on the Morning Post for 16 years. He later became a sub-editor on the Courier and a share-holder in the Sunday Times. From 1820, he wrote many novels, including so-called Newgate novels about the lives of famous criminals, as well as books on the history of England, Smithfield, Lord Cobham, Lord Wellington, etc.

Brown leather spine with five raised bands and gilt title, sunned and scuffed, marble boards scratched and worn, corners and edges rubbed and bumped, two pages with repaired tears (87-90), some offsetting to text pages, but all plates clean and bright with fresh and delicate hand-colour, a few with light finger smudges and spotting.