FIRST EDITION in book form. Illustrated with 26 hand-coloured aquatints, including the frontispiece and engraved title by Thomas Rowlandson. 285 pp. Hardcover. 8vo. Beautiful full-grained burgundy coloured morocco. Elegant gilt border key design on boards, smooth spine embellished and tooled in gilt with contrasting olive green lettered labels. Board edges ruled in gilt together with elaborate rolled gilt turn-ins. All edges gilt. Some minor wear to head and tail of spine and corners. Bookplate of 'Thomas W. Lawson' on front pastedown. Coloured endpapers. Else very good. A stunning book published originally in 8 monthly numbers and on completion issued in boards. Text by William Coombe. Coloured plates in order: 1. Frontispiece. 2. Title page. 3. The Dance of Life Begins with all its charms, In the fond Dangling of the Nurse's arms. 4. The tender Nurse's care is now resign'd, To the first grave instructor of the mind. 5. The Stern Preceptor, with his threat'ning Nod, Calls in the Correction of the Rod. 6. Wine makes the Head to Ach: but will the Art of the grave, solemn Lecture reach the Heart? 7. To part with thee, my Boy, how great the Pain ! How great the Joy, to see thee once again. 8. 'Tis hop'd 'midst foreign Scenes some Power he'll find To mend his Manners, & improve his Mind. 9. He pays his lively Court, as 'tis the Ton, To the fat Princess of the Milles Colonnes. 10. The widow's Mother hastens forth to meet Her Son, Sir Henry, to his ancient Seat. 11. The Hounds the flying Stag persue; But Dian does the Hunting rue. 12. As the first step in Folly's wanton waste, He pulls his Mansion down, to shew his Taste. 13. Of Four in hand he joins the vulgar Rage: Wields the long whip and overturns a stage. 14. The Mask that scene of wantin Folly, May convert Mirth to Melancholy. 15. By Gamblers link'd in Folly's Noose, Play ill or well, he's sure to lose. 16. The Victim of the Betting Post: His Bets as soon as made, are lost. 17. For such a mild, and placid Dear, He pays two Thousand pounds a year. 18. For my own good, and your's I'm bent, My worthy friends towards Parliament. 19. In his oppress'd and adverse hour, Virtue resumes its former Power. 20. The wild Exuberance of Joy, May Reason's sober Power destroy. 21. Sweet is the voice whose Powers can move, And call the vagrant Heart to love. 22. Blest Hymen, whose propitious Hour, Restores to Virtue all its Power. 23. Rural Sports are better far, Than all his former pleasures were. 24. To sooth the Rigour of the Laws, Let Beauty plead the Culprit's Cause. 25. By Piety's due Rites 'tis given, To hold communion with Heaven. 26. Here Virtue views, with smiling Pride, The Blessings of her Fire-side.