Struggles and Adventures of Christopher Tadpole

London: Willoughby & Co, c1850 . Cloth. Good. 9" by 6". John Leech. A smart edition of Albert Smith's novel about the life of one Christopher Tadpole, illustrated by Leech. This is a reissue of the sheets of the 1848 first edition, with the publisher's imprint - addressed Smithfield and Warwick Lane - to the margins.Albert Smith was an author, mountaineer and entertainer. This is one of his many literary efforts, several of which had autobiographical elements. Smith regularly contributed to 'Punch' and 'Richard Bentley's Miscellany'.This work has numerous illustrations by Leech, a popular Victorian caricaturist. Leech is best known for his contributions to the periodical 'Punch' and also for his work on Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'. With a portrait frontispiece of the author, and five plates. Collated, complete.With the bookplate of John H Barnes to the front pastedown, and a former owner's inscription, dated 1906, to the front free endpaper. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Bumping to back strip head and tail, with back strip and board perimeters age toned. Front joint starting, but firmly held. Bookplate to front pastedown, inscription to front free endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages lightly age toned with the odd spot, but generally clean and bright. A number of pages to the rear partially unopened. Good