64 - [CARTOON - JANET]. Human Antics. A Small Comic and Grotesque Museum.

[CARTOON - JANET]. Human Antics. A Small Comic and Grotesque Museum. First and only edition of this anonymously published satire, illustrated with a vignette and 12 colored plates. Paris, Louis Janet, n.d. [circa 1825]. Oblong 8vo (195 x 125 mm), green glazed half-calf, spine with 4 false raised bands decorated with gilt fillets and fleurons, blind-stamped and gilt friezes, title in gilt letters, publisher’s cardboard covers decorated with a color illustration depicting a monkey in a costume perched on a bungee cord, all edges gilt. Contemporary binding. IV - 146 pp. and 1 frontispiece, title vignette, and 12 hand-colored, captioned engraved plates inserted as separate sheets, mounted on tissue paper. Binding is scuffed with a few pinholes and brown stains on the covers. A few foxing spots and slight discoloration from two dried flowers slipped into the volume. First and only edition of this extremely rare work. This gem of literary and artistic “monkey business” heralds the golden age of political caricature and the satirical press. Through a series of moral fables and biting skits, the author mocks the foibles, vanity, and absurdities of Restoration-era society by transposing human activities onto primates: painting, styling hair, selling hats, hunting, playing an instrument, soliciting customers, or even putting on a magic lantern show. Although the author wisely chose to conceal his identity behind anonymity to avoid the wrath of royal censorship, authorship of the work is now attributed to its own publisher, Louis Janet (1788–1840), a seasoned man of letters and a leading expert on such recreational publications. The OCLC lists only a very small number of copies, including just one in France (at the National Library), one in Spain, and four in American libraries. An “extremely rare” book, according to Gumuchian [Gumuchian, 5375]. A fine copy, made all the more rare by its publisher’s binding, complete with all its plates in fine condition.