Author: [Töpffer, Rodolphe]
Title: The Adventures of Mr. Obadiah Oldbuck. Wherein are Duly Set Forth the Crosses, Chagrins, Calamities, Checks, Chills, Changes, and Circumgirations, by which his Courtship was Attended . . .
Place Published: New York
Publisher:Wilson & Company
Date Published: 1849
Description: Oblong 8vo. Contemporary dark red half calf, red cloth boards, plain spine. Title-page and 79 pages containing one to three panels per page of sequential comic illustrations with printed captions in the lower margins. On the final leaf is the imprint of Egbert, Hovey & King, Printers, 374 Pearl Street. This 1849 edition is an early reprint of the New York Wilson & Company edition of 1842. This dated reprint not found in OCLC. 1.5" split to front joint but covers soundly attached, joints and edges somewhat rubbed, some rubbing and a few soil spots to cloth; lacking the front free endpaper, some smudges, slight stains and small clean tears in the margins; a good, sound, complete copy.A rare key work by one of the pioneers of the comic book, Rodolphe Töpffer (1799-1846), a Swiss caricaturist and educator. The Adventures of Mr. Obadiah Oldbuck was originally published in Geneva in 1837 as Histoire de M. Vieux Bois. It was translated into English and published in London as The Adventures of Mr. Obadiah Oldbuck by Tilt and Bogue, and in the U.S. as a supplement to the September 14 issue of Brother Jonathan. The publishers of Brother Jonathan then issued a separate small oblong edition and reprinted it several times. This is one of the reprints, released after Wilson & Company had moved to Spruce Street, and it is an unusual dated reprint edition; almost all of the printings are undated.

The book was produced by "Woone's Gypsography" using an method of engraving on gypsum which allowed for a much freer and looser line than the more traditional wood engraving. The caricatures were attributed to a "Timothy Crayon, gypsographer" on the earlier American issues, but they are based on the originals of Rodolphe Töpffer (without permission or proper attribution; hence, one can determine that this is a pirated work). Due in large part to the efforts of Robert Beerbohm, direct market pioneer-cum-comics historian, The Adventures of Mr. Obadiah Oldbuck is now widely recognized and documented as the first comic book published in America. After its initial appearance in Brother Jonathan, the bibliographical history of Obadiah Oldbuck is a rather complicated tangle, and this rare dated reprint is a significant document in the history of its publication.

This obscure comics cornerstone was well off the radar of even the most seasoned funnybook collectors and historians until Bob Beerbohm rediscovered it. Bob, who peddled funnybooks to PBA's Director of Comics when the latter was a '70s schoolboy, promoted awareness of this and other Victorian Age treasures in a series of invaluable Overstreet entries. We asked Bob about this 1849 edition a few months ago, and he was duly impressed, having never seen this rare iteration before. Bob was eager to see how this copy of Obadiah Oldbuck performed at auction, but sadly, he died a week before this catalogue went to print. This catalogue is dedicated to Bob's memory – so long, old friend.______________________________________________________________

A limited edition of ten hardcover catalogues is available, in addition to a few dozen softcovers. Fun reference, great keepsake, fully illustrated, chockablock with obscure facts, gags, bon mots. Softcovers are $40, deluxe hardcovers with dust jackets and limitation plates are $200. These books always go fast so don't delay. To order, contact ivan@pbagalleries.com.

Consignments welcome for PBA's Summer 2024 Comic Book sale. Top prices for Pre-Code Horror, Golden Age, Silver Age, original art and ephemera. Find out why PBA is the new fan-fave of funnybook fiends. "This is some of the best commentary I've yet seen on the quality of the content of comic books... Priceless." – R. Crumb. Send inquiries to ivan@pbagalleries.com.

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