LEWIS, M[atthew] G[regory]. The Monk. A Tale of the Inquisition. London: G. Purkess, [1850].
8vo., sometime rebound in period binding of half calf over marbled boards, ruled in gilt; spine fully gilt in compartments, with five raised bands and contrasting red morocco label lettered in gilt; marbled edges and endpapers; pp. [iii], iv, [iii], 4-281, [i]; fully illustrated title and an additional 32 wood engravings, many rather crude; boards a little scuffed and scratched in places, one small deeper gouge to the lower board; some toning to the rather cheap paper stock, the print a little blurred in places; a very good copy, otherwise, of a scarce title. Provenance: Bookplate of Franz Pollack-Parnau (1903-2003) to the front paste-down. Pollack-Parnau was a scion of a Moravian family which had amassed a fortune in the textile industry. His library, in the family palace at Vienna's Schwarzenberg, is legendary.
One of the pinnacles of gothic literature, originally published as a series of 36 Penny Dreadfuls, issued as such with the additional printed title leaf. One other issue has been noted, which lists the publisher as 'J. and H. Purkess, 60 Dean Street, Soho' on the extra inserted title page; that issue is later, as Joseph and Henry Purkess were successors to George Purkess the elder, and were active at 60 Dean Street from 1863 to 1875.
First published in 1796, The Monk concerns the temptation and ultimate downfall of its protagonist, Ambrosio. This wonderful edition comes complete with a host of sensationalist images, depicting, among other scenes, a stranger exorcising the ghost of a bleeding nun, Ambrosio shielding himself from lightning in a cemetery, Ambrosio strangling Elvira, and Lorenzo dramatically exploring the Sepulchre, sword in one hand, a lantern held aloft in the other.
Scarce.
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