HUDIBRAS. [TWELVE Excellent and most Diverting PRINTS; Taken from the Celebrated POEM of HUDIBRAS. Wrote by Mr. SAMUEL BUTLER. Exposing the Villany and Hypocricy of those TIMES. Invented and Engraved on Twelve COPPER PLATES, by William Hogarth.]

Hogarth’s 12 prints illustrating Samuel Butler’s poem Hudibras, were among his favourite works. Although a little more obscure than some of his works, they represent an important stage in his development; Butler’s comic narrative was the perfect subject for Hogarth to develop his gift for social satire. Twelve prints are on seven sheets - two prints on each sheet, except for plates eleven and twelve which each have their own sheet.

Very good condition, generally. Sheets 3 & 4, containing plates 5 to 8, are trimmed along the lower edge, shaving the lowest line of the text. Sheets3, 4 and 6 are lightly damp-stained.