‘An Operator’ [Jon Bee],

The Fancy, Being Authentic Memoirs of the Lives, Actions, Prowess, Battles and Leading Characteristics of the most Renowned Pugilists…,

first edition, vol. I, parts 1-28, hand-coloured aquatint title, each part with one plate except for parts 7, 8, 10, 15; parts 6 & 9 with an additional plate (one hand-coloured); part 24’s plate folding; lacking contents, p.513 with loss to lower corner, occasional offsetting and spotting, signature to front endpaper, later half morocco gilt by J. Larkins, worn to extremities with loss at head of spine, [Hartley 1514], John Bysh & J. McGowan and Son, 1821-26 § with another set including vol. I, parts 2-28 and vol. II, parts 29-55, first edition, vol II with 4pp. of incomplete contents at the front, lacking title, each part in vol. II with one plate except for parts 39, 49, 53, 54; trimmed affecting text in numerous places and some plates, numerous repaired short tears, significant staining and spotting throughout, bookplate of G. EV. Harvey to front endpapers, later half calf gilt, worn, vol. I with spine detached § and a further copy of vol. I, part I, first edition, portrait frontispiece, short tear into plate, further chipping and creasing throughout, original printed wrappers with woodcut heading by George Cruikshank, creased, damage with loss to upper edge extending to p.20. § with 2 incomplete volumes and a facsimile, 8vo (7)

***Some of the miscellaneous essays at the end of volume II are reprints from Pierce Egan's Sporting Anecdotes (1825).