Just in time for halloween! Spooky and sophisticated, this is a beautiful book, large in size, about 10" x 15". Each page is a beautiful plate. It was written in 1888 by Thomas Ingoldsby (Richard Barnham) and illustrated by Ernest Maurice Jessop. They partnered on several other books in the late 1800's. TMP 9/16/22
Richard Barnham (a.k.a. Thomas Ingoldsby)
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7/21/24 (updated 11/25/25)
"The Witches' Frolic" by Thomas Ingoldsby, published in 1888, is a tale from the "Ingoldsby Legends," a collection of supernatural and humorous legends written by the English priest Richard Harris Barham under the pen name Thomas Ingoldsby. The story blends satire and gothic horror, characteristic of Ingoldsby's style, mixing humor with supernatural elements. It is set in a fictional place called Tappington Hall and features classic witch motifs such as witches in green kirtles, pointy hats, birch brooms, and black cats.
This edition of "The Witches' Frolic" is notable for its vivid illustrations by Ernest M. Jessop, which complement the whimsical and eerie tone of the story. The book was published by Eyre & Spottiswoode and includes 19 individual folio plates with Jessop's artwork, which was well regarded at the time. The tale and its illustrations reflect the 19th-century fascination with witchcraft and the supernatural, making it a unique piece of literary and artistic work from that era.