Binding

William Ralston; signed

[1868]

Green cloth with a gilt design.

6¾ x 4 inches

This elaborate design deploys comic motifs that link the cover to H. K. Browne's illustrations within. It plays on the notion of sketching, uniting a palette and brushes and a quill; 'young couples' are symbolized by newly-born chicks and Cupid's arrow signals romance; experience, the end result of innocence, is registed in the form of a cigar-smoking swell. 'W R', Ralston's monogram, appears below the letter 'O'.

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  • Phiz (H. K. Browne)

    • Photograph and text by Simon Cooke

    [You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link to this URL in a web document or cite it in a print one.]