Alcoholism.- Cruikshank (George) The Bottle & The Drunkards Children [special copy with original ink wash borders and illustrations, possibly by Cruikshank], 16 plates in two series of 8 from the 'Superior Tinted Issue', each trimmed and mounted on album leaves with original ink and wash decorative borders, each plate accompanied on opposing leaf with original text and illustration by an anonymous hand, but possibly that of Cruikshank or an artist in his circle, each album leaf approx. 450 x 540 mm (17 3/4 x 21 1/4 in), mounted on stubs, some surface dirt and handling creases throughout, handling creases, some losses and tears to plates, contemporary purple cloth, lacking spine, very worn, oblong folio, [circa 1847-1848]*** Possibly designed for use on a lecture tour. ‘These designs, which form a “progress” like those of Hogarth’s rake and idle apprentice, trace the evils of drink through two generations. In the opening scene “the bottle is brought out for the first time” at a happy family gathering. In the last “the maniac father and the convict brother are gone. The poor girl, homeless, friendless, deserted, destitute, and gin-mad, commits self-murder.” Cruikshank had each series published “in one large sheet of double imperial, at one shilling” to make them generally accessible, and of The Bottle 100,000 copies were sold within a few days of its appearance.’ The superior tinted issue, described here, cost six shillings.’ [Ray, Gordon Norton, The illustrator and the book in England from 1790 to 1914, pp. 119-120]