Wit of the World 1858 Illustrated Victorian Humour Cruikshank Decorative Binding
 
Bibliographic Details
Title: 'Wit Of The World' or 'Jests and Sayings of the Present Day'
Published: London: Published for the Booksellers.
Year: 1858.
Edition: Edition not stated.
Author: Anonymous compilation consisting of "endless variety of Yankee Jokes, witty sayings, jests, bon mots, repartees &c."
Illustrations: Engraved frontispiece by R. Cruikshank entitled Two Black Beauties Conversing on the Extraordinary Voracity of Jonah, together with an engraved illustrated title page bearing the initials "R.C.", generally attributed to Robert Cruikshank.
Please note: The engraved frontispiece and some humour reflect the social attitudes and conventions of the nineteenth century. They are presented here as part of the book’s original historical context and are not indicative of contemporary views.
 
Historical & Bibliographical Context
Published during the height of Victorian humour publishing, Wit of the World is a fascinating anthology of comic anecdotes, repartee, puns, observations and satirical sketches collected from a wide variety of contemporary sources. The volume reflects nineteenth-century tastes in popular entertainment, preserving examples of social humour, transatlantic "Yankee" wit and everyday Victorian comic writing.
The decorative cloth binding, richly gilt spine and engraved illustrations make this an attractive example of a mid-Victorian gift book intended both for reading and display. Such books were frequently found in Victorian parlours and family libraries, where collections of humorous anecdotes enjoyed lasting popularity.
 
About the Illustrator
The engraved frontispiece and illustrated title page are attributed to Robert Cruikshank (1789–1856), one of Britain's best-known nineteenth-century illustrators. A prolific caricaturist and book illustrator, Cruikshank produced humorous engravings for numerous Victorian publications and remains highly collected today. His illustrations contribute additional collector interest to this edition.
 
Binding & Exterior
Bound in the original blue cloth over boards with attractive blind-stamped decorative panels to both boards.
The spine retains its elaborate gilt decoration extending the full length together with the gilt title.
The binding remains structurally sound. Cosmetic wear includes fading, rubbing, marks, bumping to the corners, small splits to the corners, rubbing along the edges and tears at the head and tail of the spine, entirely consistent with a well-read Victorian volume.
 
Interior Condition
Yellow pastedowns.
The pages retain their original roughly cut edges.
Paper is evenly age toned with light foxing, occasional marks and light creasing throughout. The book has clearly been well read yet remains legible.
Occasional small edge tears are present without affecting the text. The final two leaves have the largest edge tears, although all text remains readable.
Ownership inscriptions appear on the front pastedown and front flyleaf, including what appears to read:
"Daniel Wyman Peake, Boston, Lincolnshire."
Further minor annotations include remnants of pencil to the half-title, small red ink marks on pages 16–17, minimal pen to page 91, pen marks to pages 176–177, and light pencil remnants to pages 308–309 and page 377.
The binding remains secure with cracking to the gutters beside the pastedowns and a few light gutter cracks internally, but all pages remain firmly attached.
 
Provenance
The principal ownership inscription appears to read Daniel Wyman Peake, Boston, Lincolnshire.
While no evidence has been found that identifies the owner as a historically significant individual, the inscription provides an appealing piece of nineteenth-century ownership history and links the volume to Boston, Lincolnshire.
 
Physical Details
Pagination: Complete with all 382 pages
Dimensions: 13.1 cm x 9 cm x 2.8 cm
Weight: 179g