The Works of Horatio Walpole, Earl of Orford.
London: Robinson, 1798. 5 volume set, 12 inches tall. First Edition. A remarkable and lovely half pink straight grain morocco with wide bands and very attractive star centre tools. Speckled blue edges. With the martial bookplate of Vane Londonderry, From the library of Charles William Vane (formerly Stewart), third Marquess of Londonderry. Vane served with distinction throughout the Peninsula War. His dashing and dandified portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence is at the National Portrait Gallery. He amassed magnificent libraries in his various Country Houses. There is some foxing, very occasional staining to some plates, and volume 3 has an almost invisible repaired split to one panel but overall this is a stunning looking set. Decorated with 170 fine full page engraved plates, some folding and several vignettes. This extraordinary work includes Walpole's Fugitive Pieces, Noble Authors, The Castle of Otranto, Description of Strawberry Hill, Anecdotes of Painting etc., Catalogue of Engravers and his Letters.