![DARLY, Mary (fl. 1760-1781) and Matthias DARLY (c.1720-1778). 24 Caricatures by Several Ladies, Gentlemen, Artists, &. [Continued as:] – Vol. II [-Vol. IV] of Caricatures, Macaronies & Characters by sundry Ladies, Gentlemen, Artists, &. London: M. Darly, 39 Strand, 1771-1772.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2019/CKS/2019_CKS_17736_0235_001(darly_mary_and_matthias_darly_24_caricatures_by_several_ladies_gentlem051639).jpg?w=1)
![DARLY, Mary (fl. 1760-1781) and Matthias DARLY (c.1720-1778). 24 Caricatures by Several Ladies, Gentlemen, Artists, &. [Continued as:] – Vol. II [-Vol. IV] of Caricatures, Macaronies & Characters by sundry Ladies, Gentlemen, Artists, &. London: M. Darly, 39 Strand, 1771-1772.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2019/CKS/2019_CKS_17736_0235_002(darly_mary_and_matthias_darly_24_caricatures_by_several_ladies_gentlem051648).jpg?w=1)
![DARLY, Mary (fl. 1760-1781) and Matthias DARLY (c.1720-1778). 24 Caricatures by Several Ladies, Gentlemen, Artists, &. [Continued as:] – Vol. II [-Vol. IV] of Caricatures, Macaronies & Characters by sundry Ladies, Gentlemen, Artists, &. London: M. Darly, 39 Strand, 1771-1772.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2019/CKS/2019_CKS_17736_0235_003(darly_mary_and_matthias_darly_24_caricatures_by_several_ladies_gentlem051657).jpg?w=1)
![DARLY, Mary (fl. 1760-1781) and Matthias DARLY (c.1720-1778). 24 Caricatures by Several Ladies, Gentlemen, Artists, &. [Continued as:] – Vol. II [-Vol. IV] of Caricatures, Macaronies & Characters by sundry Ladies, Gentlemen, Artists, &. London: M. Darly, 39 Strand, 1771-1772.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2019/CKS/2019_CKS_17736_0235_000(darly_mary_and_matthias_darly_24_caricatures_by_several_ladies_gentlem055018).jpg?w=1)
Details
DARLY, Mary (fl. 1760-1781) and Matthias DARLY (c.1720-1778). 24 Caricatures by Several Ladies, Gentlemen, Artists, &. [Continued as:] – Vol. II [-Vol. IV] of Caricatures, Macaronies & Characters by sundry Ladies, Gentlemen, Artists, &. London: M. Darly, 39 Strand, 1771-1772.
First edition of 18th-century engravings lampooning contemporary fashion and manners by Mary Darly, England's leading female caricaturist. Matthias Darly was a respectable designer and printseller, involved with the publication of Robert Manwaring's The Chair-Maker's Guide (1766), Chippendale's The Gentleman's and Cabinet-Maker's Director (1754), and collaborated with the ornithologist George Edwards to publish A New Book of Chinese Designs (1754). In 1749, when questioned by the government about the sale of satirical prints which ridiculed the Duke of Cumberland, 'he admitted acquiring a hundred, of which "his Wife has sold several" ... in exchange for a book of ornament - presumably his own freshly published New Book of Ornament (1749)' (ODNB). It is known that in 1762 Mary Darly, as Matthias' wife, assumed responsibility for publishing satirical prints; but when they married is unclear. Perhaps she was the wife mentioned in 1749 as selling satirical prints; earlier in her career she described herself as 'Fun Merchant, at the Acorn in Ryder's Court, Fleet Street'; but there are good grounds for believing she may have been Matthias' second wife. Certainly by 1766 the couple were established at 39 Strand. The political disturbances of the early 1770s led caricaturists to move away from attacking political and aristocratic targets, and to concentrate instead on mocking the affected manners and fashions of the 'macaronis'. The present work sold well, and there was sufficient demand for a reprint 1776; 'Characteristically, she advertised it as "the most entertaining Work ever published in Europe"' (ODNB).
4 volumes bound in 2, octavo (222 x 140mm). 4 hand-coloured engraved titles, 1 leaf of engraved text in vol. I, 96 hand-coloured engraved plates (final plate in vol. I with light spotting, a few other faint scattered spots). Early 20th-century dark-brown morocco, covers elaborately panelled in gilt, gilt spines, turn-ins and edges. Provenance: Gloucester (bookplates).
First edition of 18th-century engravings lampooning contemporary fashion and manners by Mary Darly, England's leading female caricaturist. Matthias Darly was a respectable designer and printseller, involved with the publication of Robert Manwaring's The Chair-Maker's Guide (1766), Chippendale's The Gentleman's and Cabinet-Maker's Director (1754), and collaborated with the ornithologist George Edwards to publish A New Book of Chinese Designs (1754). In 1749, when questioned by the government about the sale of satirical prints which ridiculed the Duke of Cumberland, 'he admitted acquiring a hundred, of which "his Wife has sold several" ... in exchange for a book of ornament - presumably his own freshly published New Book of Ornament (1749)' (ODNB). It is known that in 1762 Mary Darly, as Matthias' wife, assumed responsibility for publishing satirical prints; but when they married is unclear. Perhaps she was the wife mentioned in 1749 as selling satirical prints; earlier in her career she described herself as 'Fun Merchant, at the Acorn in Ryder's Court, Fleet Street'; but there are good grounds for believing she may have been Matthias' second wife. Certainly by 1766 the couple were established at 39 Strand. The political disturbances of the early 1770s led caricaturists to move away from attacking political and aristocratic targets, and to concentrate instead on mocking the affected manners and fashions of the 'macaronis'. The present work sold well, and there was sufficient demand for a reprint 1776; 'Characteristically, she advertised it as "the most entertaining Work ever published in Europe"' (ODNB).
4 volumes bound in 2, octavo (222 x 140mm). 4 hand-coloured engraved titles, 1 leaf of engraved text in vol. I, 96 hand-coloured engraved plates (final plate in vol. I with light spotting, a few other faint scattered spots). Early 20th-century dark-brown morocco, covers elaborately panelled in gilt, gilt spines, turn-ins and edges. Provenance: Gloucester (bookplates).
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