‎FRANKLIN (John) (Illustrator).‎
‎The ancient ballad of Chevy Chase. Illustrated in twelve plates, designed and etched by John Franklin, esq.‎

‎London, Saunders and Otley, 1836, 4°(33 x 26,5 cm), IX, 17 pp., 12 engraved plates, contemporary green half cloth, gilt lettering to spine, marbled boards. ‎

Reference : 14916

‎First edition. The illustrations are beautiful compositions of outline drawings, a style very popular at this time, especially in Germany (for ex. by Moritz Retzsch). The text of the ballad is the more modern version, and differs somewhat from that in Percy's Reliques. Some slight foxing especially to the plates, binding somewhat rubbed, top and foot of spine with small chip, but in all a good copy of this uncommon book (COPAC records only three copies). Very little is known of Franklins life and work. Although a famous illustrator in the mid-nineteenth century (he rivaled even Cruikshank), he was almost forgotten at the turn of the century. Recent research by J. Buchanan-Brown (Early Victorian illustrated books: Britain, France, and Germany, 1820-1860. London, 2005) and several articles about Franklins life and work (among them a first comprehensive list of books illustrated by Franklin) by Simon Cooke in The Victorian Web threw some new light on his life and his craft. ‎