CRUIKSHANK, GEORGE and ROBERT. The Universal Songster; or, Museum of Mirth.

COHN COPY, IN ORIGINAL BOARDS, WITH ALS CRUIKSHANK, GEORGE and ROBERT. The Universal Songster; or, Museum of Mirth. 3 etched frontispieces by George Cruikshank; 84 woodcut illustrations of which 24 are after George, 57 after Robert, and three after other artists. 3 volumes. 8vo, original pictorial boards, Volumes 2 and 3 rebacked with cloth, retaining original backstrips, moderate wear and darkening; "Citizen and Skinner" bookplates of Cruikshank bibliographer Albert M. Cohn; cloth chemises with additional Cohn bookplate and that of later owner. London: John Fairburn, 1825-26-28

first edition, ex-collection albert cohn, with his notes on pastedown of Volume 1 stating that this is the first issue with frontispiece before alteration (the Toby plate). Also, laid in, is an ALS by George Cruikshank dated 25 August 1826 to an unknown recipient, perhaps about this volume, claiming that "the reason why you have not had the book sent you is that I have unfortunately got a terrible fool for a publisher. He has at most driven me mad . . ." 1 page, 8vo, folded. Cohn 820.