[ George Cruikshank, artist and illustrator. ] Contemporary manuscript catalogue of 264 books with illustrations by Cruikshank, and newspaper cuttinng of long obituary ('Death of George Cruikshank') from the Daily News, and two other cuttings.

12pp., 4to. On the twelve leaves of a ruled notebook, stitched into buff wraps. Internally in good condition, in heavily-worn wraps, with 'G Cruikshank' in the same hand on the front cover. The entries are arranged in eight sections: 1811-1821 (61 items); 'No Date' (36 items); 1826-1830 (23 items); 1831-1840 (51 items); 1841-1850 (45 items); 1851-1861 (33 items); 1862-[1867] (7 items); and a final section of eight items from between 1811 and 1824. The penultimate section is headed '1862 to [blank]', indicating that the catalogue was a work in progress, and the latest items are dated 1867. The first two entries in the first section are representative: '1 Baron Munchausen at Walcheren, or the renowned Barons surprising Travels, Adventures, Expeditions and Exploits 8vo 1811 | 2 Triumphs of the Sons of Belial or Liberty Vanquished folding col front 1810'. Five unnumbered items are scored through, including 'Old Faces in New Masks cuts 1859' and 'The Playfair Papers or Brother Jonathan'. Laid down on the first leaf is a short newspaper cutting dated in pencil to July 1870, regarding Cruikshank's 'model of a monument of King Robert the Bruce'. Loosely inserted is a 62 x 15 cm newspaper cutting of an obituary, headed 'DEATH OF GEORGE CRUIKSHANK', dated in a contemporary hand: 'Daily News. 2 Feb 1878'. A long obituary, filled with interesting information. Regarding 'Oliver Twist' the author writes that 'Cruikshank, in after years, used to assert that he suggested to the novelist several of his characters and scenes. [...] Cruikshank used to say that hee drew the figures of Fagan, Bill Sykes and his dog, Nancy, the Artful Dodger, and Charley Bates before "Oliver Twist" was written, and that Dickens, seeing the sketches one day shortly after the commencement of his story, determined to change his plot, and instead of keeping Oliver in the country, to bring him to town, and throw him, though with entire innocence, into the company of thieves'.