Edward Lear (1812 - 1888). Lear preferred the term NONSENSE to 'limerick' . "There was an Old Man, who when litlle fell casually into a Kettle; But, growing to stout, he could never get out, So he passed all his life in that Kettle". "There was an Old Person in Black, a Grasshopper jumped on his back; When it chirped in his ear, he was smitten with fear, That helpless Old Person In Black". Lear as a teenager found artistic work drawing zoological specimens for illustrated books. One of his patrons was the earl of Derby, for whose children he devised the Book of Nonsense, published in 1846, the year after he had given drawing lessons to Queen Victoria. Although known for his cartoons and Nonsense books he was also a prolific landscape painter in watercolour and oils, having learnt much about the latter from William Holman Hunt. 104 illustrations, many from the Original Book of Nonsense. 1900 to the title page. Sixth Edition, stated Blue cloth boards and spine, Elaborate gilt title to spine and board, quarter board stamped design in black of Lear's characters. Decorated end papers, few ink marks. Head and heal of spine chipped and mildly frayed. TEG. Binding very tight, mild toning, text clean. Over all Very Good clean copy. oblong sm 4 to, 109 pages. Ads for Lear's other works to rear. In protective archival wraps.

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