Handley Cross or, Mr. Jorrockss Hunt

The Volume is in Very Good Condition. Bound in contemporary half calf over marbled boards, with elaborate gilt decorations to the spine. The spine divided into six compartments by five raised bands, with green morocco letter-piece in the second compartment from the top. Externally the boards and spine are lightly scuffed in general, with no splits or cracks to the hinges, but some minor splits to the top of the spine.

Internally the leaves are generally clean and well margined, with minor mild foxing or toning throughout and with some creasing at the edges of some leaves. One section has sprung at the bottom cord at Pg. 364. (see photographs) but is holding fine (binding error?).

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Of Handley Cross

“Originally published in 3 volumes, octavo, in 1843, unillustrated. Then in 17monthly parts from March 1853 to October 1854, and on completion in volume form as above in red cloth in one large Volume, 8vo, price 18s. There are three issues of this first edition. The first issue bears the words “illustrious Leech” in preface, the second issue does not bear these words and the third issue does not mention Jorrock’s Jaunts on the title.” R.V. Tooley Pg. 377 – 378

Of R V Surtees Novels

“Jorrocks, the sporting cockney grocer, with his vulgarity and good-natured artfulness, was a great success with the public, and Surtees produced more Jorrocks novels in the same vein, notably Handley Cross and Hillingdon Hall, where the description of the house is very reminiscent of Hamsterley. Another hero, Soapey Sponge, appears in Mr. Sponge’s Sporting Tour, possibly Surtees best work. All Surtees’ novels were composed at Hamsterley Hall, where he wrote standing up at a desk, like Victor Hugo. In 1835, Surtees abandoned his legal practice and after inheriting Hamsterley Hall in 1838, devoted himself to hunting and shooting, meanwhile writing anonymously for his own pleasure. He was a friend and admirer of the great hunting man Ralph Lambton, who had his headquarters at Sedgefield County Durham, the ‘Melton of the North’. Surtees became Lord High Sheriff of Durham in 1856. He died in Brighton in 1864, and was buried in Ebchester church.

Most of Surtees’s later novels, were illustrated by John Leech. Though Surtees did not set his novels in any readily identifiable locality, he uses North East place-names like Sheepwash, Howell (How) Burn, and Winford Rig. His memorable Geordie James Pigg, in Handley Cross, is based on Joe Kirk, a Slaley huntsman. The famous incident, illustrated by Leech, when Pigg jumps into the melon frame was inspired by a similar episode involving Kirk in Corbridge. As a creator of comic personalities, Surtees is still readable today. Thackeray envied him his powers of observation, while William Morris considered him “a master of life” and ranked him with Dickens. The novels are engaging and vigorous, and abound with sharp social observation, with a keener eye than Dickens for the natural world. Perhaps Surtees most resembles the Dickens of Pickwick Papers, which was originally intended as mere supporting matter for a series of sporting illustrations to rival Jorrocks.” Wikipedia.