[George Cruikshank.] Set of four aquatint hand-coloured engravings on a single sheet, comprising the four parts of 'The Dancing Lesson' ('The 1st. Position', 'The Minuet', 'L'ete' and 'The Sailors Hornpipe').

The four engravings are arranged in two rows (the first two parts on the top row and the last two parts on the bottom row) on a sheet of 27 x 38 cm wove paper. Each engraving is 12 x 16 cm, within a light-blue frame, with the 'The Dancing Lesson - Pt. 1 [4]' beneath the image, and the subtitle above. Publisher's details in bottom right-hand corner, and Cruikshank's details at bottom left. (The first part has Cruikshank's monogram and 'Etchd by G Cruikk.', and the other three parts have 'G Cruikshank fect'. On aged and worn paper, with chipping to one margin in particular (not affecting images) and a 2cm closed tear extending 0.5cm into the frame of the fourth illustration. It is now unclear whether there is a satirical intent behind the series, but the illustrations remain a series of charming compositions, showing a spindly dancing master in fashionable attire, playing the fiddle while instructing a group of eager infants how to dance. The present set is a later printing of the series, the first having been published by G. Humphrey of 27 St James's St. on 8 July 1822 , and another, also by Humphrey, on 6 March 1824. The series is not often encountered as issued on its original sheet.