[MARRYAT, Frederick (1792-1848), illustrator] -- CRUIKSHANK, George, engraver. The Progress of a Midshipman exemplified in the Career of Master Blockhead. London: G. Humphrey, July 1821. Oblong 4º (278 x 374mm). Hand-coloured aquatint frontispiece and 7 plates by G. Cruikshank after Marryatt, tipped into an album. Extra-illustrated with 3 uncoloured proofs of plates 1, 5 and 6, the first before letters. Blue half calf by Wallis, spine lettered in gilt, uncut (spine and corners rubbed). Provenance: Albert M. Cohn (bookplate and shelf label) – purchased at the Woodin Sale, New York, 15 March 1942. The Cohn copy with plates in the rare second state, dated 1821. Cohn comments that ‘the first state, with date 1820, is of the greatest rarity, and the second state, dated 1821 (the only difference), almost equally so.’ The proof of plate 1 is undated, the proofs of plates 5 and 6 are dated 1820 and 1821 respectively. The plate illustrated shows the precocious young midshipman ‘fitting out’. By the end of the series he has left boyhood behind, used his sword against a real enemy and been promoted to lieutenant. Cohn 1874.