Nine original antique prints by William Hogarth, from illustrations to Hudibras

Size: Each sheet 49 x 64 cm, 8 plates 34.5 x 27 to platemark, one plate 52 x 27 to platemark. 

Condition: Very good condition, strong impressions. There is a water stain at the bottom of each sheet, just creeping into the right margin of the larger plate, and affecting the lettering in the bottom margin of four plates. A bit of light foxing not affecting the images to any significant degree. A few marginal tears, only one affecting the plate (Hudibras Catchiz'd). 

These plates are from a set a set of twelve plates Hogarth made to illustrate Samuel Butler's satirical poem. They were not illustrations to be published with the book (Hogarth had engraved smaller illustrations some years before for a book copy of Hudibras), but stand-alone. The prints are from the original copper plate engraved in c1726 by Hogarth. Prints like these from the original copper plates by Hogarth are rare and usually very good impressions. This is because Hogarth sold the plates, and they were not in the possession of his widow Jane or the publisher John Boydell, who issued most of the Hogarth prints in the 18th century. Boydell and Baldwin Cradock & Joy, who published Hogarth's works from 1822, used copies made by Thomas Cook, until about 1840, when it appears that Hogarth's original plates were acquired and began to be printed again. Tagged "The modern Quixote" when it was published in 1662, the poem was very popular. Hudibras is an anti hero rather less sympathetic than Quixote. Butler's poem was written from a Royalist perspective and Hudibras is a parody of a Presbyterian. For more details and explanation, see Paulson, Hogarth's Graphic Works, 1989. These prints are really good impressions on a stout wove paper. Hogarth's works were copied may times but these prints are far superior even to the best copies made by Thomas Cook.