Takings: Or, The Life Of A Collegian. A Poem. Illustrated By Twenty-Six Etchings
From Designs By R. Dagley, London: John Warren, Old Bond Street, And G. And W. B. Whittaker, Ave-Maria Lane. MDCCCXX! [1821], a first edition, with five raised bands,
gilt lettering and gilt designs inside six compartments and “1821” on the spine, triple gilt fillets on calf covers, wide gilt dentelles on marbled endpapers, a colored frontis by Richard Dagley followed by the title page, the imprint of William Clowes after the title page, a dedication page, a three-page advertisement, 184 pages of text, and the top edge is gilt.
The poem was written anonymously by Thomas Gaspey (1788 - 1871) and Dagley wrote the preface and designed the twenty-six comic illustrations for this work. Dagley (c. 1765-1841) was an English subject painter; he was brought up at Christ's Hospital and made designs for jewelry to start his career. From 1784 to 1806 he exhibited domestic subjects at the Royal Academy, then tried his hand at teaching art, but appeared again at the Academy from 1815 to 1833. He was a medallist and obtained some success afterwards, but his life was a continual struggle against poverty, and he died in London in 1841. Though well-represented in institutional holdings, the last copy of Takings seen at auction was over twenty years ago, in 1999.
The book is 8vo. and measures 10 x 6 1/2 in. wide., with light rubbing at the crown, heel, and tips, and light scratches on the covers, and the illustrations are in the manner of Rowlandson.