Pictorial Half-hours, Series I and II (Volumes 1 to 4)

Undated but circa 1850. Two physical volumes, series one and series two, containing volumes 1 to 4 of Charles Knight’s Pictorial Half-hours. Complete in two series. Series One: 312pp, illustrated title pages, numerous full page and in text illustrations throughout. Series Two: 312pp, illustrated title pages, numerous full page and in text illustrations throughout. Volumes uniformly bound in red cloth-covered boards, with elaborate blind embossed decorations front and rear, gilt decorations front and spine, all edges gilt. 8vo. Boards worn, unevenly discoloured, gently rubbed and rounded at corners and spine tips. Lower leading corners on both volumes more heavily rubbed. Gift inscription on front pastedowns, dated 1855. Endpapers a little soiled. Light spotting on prelims and occasionally throughout. Handsome volumes. Charles Knight (1791-1873) was a second generation bookseller and publisher from Windsor. His publishing career was fired by a passion for spreading knowledge to the masses, at affordable prices. Prolific in writing and publishing, he is perhaps best known for The Penny Magazine, The Library of Entertaining Knowledge and Half-hours with the Best Authors which achieved worldwide popularity, and for his long association with the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.