The Works. From the original plates restored by James Heath, with the addition of many subjects not before collected: to which are prefixed, a biographical essay on the genius and productions of Hogarth, and explanations of the subjects of the plates, by John Nichols. HOGARTH, William.

First Heath edition, the last to use Hogarth's original plates, which the publishers acquired at the Boydell sale in 1818. Heath, one of the leading line engravers of his time, lightly retouched Hogarth's plates for this collection and then retired that year. The plates became worn down in subsequent Heath editions, necessitating their drastic restoration by the late 1830s. James Heath (1757-1834), historical engraver to George III, first brought the Heath family of engravers to prominence. He did the plates for travel books by George Vancouver and James Bruce, provided engravings for Boydell's Shakespeare gallery (1802), and engraved the frontispiece portrait after Sir Joshua Reynolds in Boswell's Life of Johnson (1790). Folio (655 x 480 mm), pp. xi, 52. With 155 copper engravings on 119 leaves of plates. Contemporary red half morocco, spine lettered in gilt and ruled in gilt and blind, green cloth sides, sides and corners ruled in gilt, marbled endpapers and edges. Old sheet with silhouette profile study on either side loosely inserted. Slightly marked and rubbed, with wear to edges, head of front joint just starting, inner hinges reinforced with cloth, sporadic foxing. A very good copy.