Bewick, Thomas. A FINE ALBUM OF THOMAS BEWICK VIGNETTES OR "TALE-PIECES" INSCRIBED BY BEWICK AND PRESENTED TO RICHARD ARKWRIGHT IN 1824. [No place}: {Thomas Bewick], [1824]. 24mo - 5-11/16" x 4-1/4". Contemporary blue straight-grain morocco covered boards with gilt-roll border and emblematic tools (an angler's basket and a fish) in the corners and at center of both front and back covers, spine tooled and lettered in gilt, and with gilt dentelles; presumably bound by Bewick for presentation to Richard Arkwright, with slight rubbing to edges and corners, and minor darkening to the gilt for what is a beautiful copy of this very special book. Dark gray endpapers with the bookplate of Arkwright of Sutton Scarsdale to front pastedown. a.e.g. [24] leaves, including 8 proof printings of woodcut vignettes by Bewick bound in landscape format. A charming and unique album of woodcut vignettes by Thomas Bewick, all with a pastoral or fishing theme, with an inked gift inscription in Bewick's hand on the first plate, "Thomas Bewick to Mr. Arkwright, 7 Aug. 1824." Included woodcuts are: elderly gentleman angler on horseback, angler disturbed while fishing when his dog barks at a bull, heron catches an eel, cows in the water, two images of fish (a John Dory and a Brandling), a well-dressed man rides a gray horse leading a train of five other horses, and a sow yoked with sticks watches as nine of her piglets run through an open gate; most of these woodcuts were intended for the abandoned History of British Fishes; minor hints of foxing internally. The condition of the book is VERY GOOD +. This is truly a very special little book. #001052