The Illustrated news of the world and drawing-room portrait gallery of eminent Personages by London Joint Stock Newspaper Company - 1858

London: London Joint Stock Newspaper Company, 1858. 'The Illustrated News of the World and National Portrait Gallery of Eminent Personages' was a new publication with the strong visual emphasis of numerous large woodcuts to illustrate local and world events and featuring several fine steel engravings of eminent persons. A competitor to the existing illustrated magazines: - The Illustrated London News and Punch Magazine. Here we have Nos 22 - 48 or / July 1858 - January 1859. The Journal had only been first published [ No 1] on the 6th February 1858. This is a truly fascinating publication and covers a vast array of subjects. Particularly noticeable when working through the volume is how extensive Queen Victoria's travels were and these and other articles are supported by illustrations. I am only able to provide a small 'snap shot' of examples here: Queen's visit to Birmingham, engravings of Aston Hall, her Boudoir etc; Numerous adverts: Bass's East India Ale - Gallon Casks!; Engraving of the Port of Caernarvon from a Water colour by Thomas S. Robins, with Snowdon in the background; The running debate at Parliament about the state of the Thames; A beautiful Full page engraving of the Royal Agriculture Exhibition held at the Racecourse in Chester; Another of the Grand Reception of the 1st British Ambassador to China. Overall the Book is Good. The Covers are sturdy, and although the front hinge is showing it is secure. The boards themselves are somewhat rubbed [images to follow]. The interior is very good overall, but a few points should be noted: pages are very clean, bar a few occasional fox spots and offsets. The base margins of a small number of pages have been trimmed [ at the time the Journals were bound?] not affecting text or engravings; there are a few tears to the following: 1" -p.120, p.139, p168, p.394, 400, 2" - p.397; 3" - p.120, &; 401-403; 7" - p.419. Each is easily repairable with archival type tape. Collation: Period Journal format, bound in Quarter Leather Boards, comprehensive Indices covering Articles and Engravings. [Representative images will follow]. First Edition. Hard Cover. Good. Illus. by Steel Engravings By D.J.Pound. Elephant Folio - over 15" - 23" tall.