18th Century Binding

Paris: Didot Junior, Typographiae Fratris Regis, 1788. Tree Calf with morocco spine, 13 1/2 inches tall. A magnificent and most unusual French 18th century binding with a straight grain morocco binding with two green calf labels and wonderful gilt floral tooling. A superb gilt vine roll frames the boards. Lovely printed bookseller's ticket on the paste down end paper. Engraved title page and frontispiece. Pristine condition. In the original Latin. Since its first printing in 1471-2, 'The Imitation of Christ' has remained one of the most enduring and popular of all Christian devotional works.

London: George Goulding and John Walker, 1793. 3 volume set, 10 1/2 inches tall. Superb 18th century 'Country House' full calf with raised bands and splendid gilt tooling to the panels and exceptionally fine twin labels. With the splendid martial bookplate of Stewart. 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 an ink stain to one foredge and two stains on the reverse of the frontispiece, not affecting the portrait itself, otherwise very clean internally and magnificent externally.

London: Strahan and Woodfall, 1792. 6 volume set, 9.5 inches tall. An extraordinary 18th century binding in full sheep with blind bands, splendid triple labels and twin blind fillets framing the boards. With exceptional speckled pink lettering to the edges indicating that this set belonged to the Circuit Library of the Chester Crown Court. There are no other inscriptions and the text is very clean. There has been expert repair to the joints of two of the volumes. We can find no other examples of this style of lettering on the edges. A remarkable set of this scarce work.

London: John Bell, 1791. 7 volumes, 6 inches tall. Full straight grain morocco with label, gilt bands, titles, superb centre tools, all edges and dentelles. This is the first 7 volumes of Tragedies, part of John Bell's British library series. Containing many plays all individually paginated. Each also has a superb engraved frontispiece and title page. An exceedingly pretty run.

Lausanne: Chez Marc-Mic. Bousquet & Comp, 1759. 2 volume set, 6.5 inches tall. Fine full speckled calf in pristine condition. With gilt raised bands, twin labels and floral gilt tooling to the panels. Woodcut ornaments. 13 full page engraved plates. A superb copy of a scarce edition.

London: Dilly, 1793. Full straight grain morocco, 9.5 inches tall. A fine example of the work of one of the greatest bookbinders of the late 18th century, with his bookplate. With his typical twin gilt raised bands, triple fillet framing the boards, dentelles and all edges gilt. Portraits.

Amsterdam: Chez Pierre Humbert, 1731. 2 volume set, 10 inches tall. A superb early 18th century full French calf with gilt raised bands, twin morocco labels and extra gilt tooling to the panels. Pink edges. Fine full page engravings throughout. Slight foxing to the title page, otherwise clean. From the library of Madame de Simiane at the Chateau de Cirey. A fine set.

London: Printed by Charles Rivington for the Company of Stationers, 1772. Full calf, 8.25 inches tall. A pristine copy in full calf with gilt raised bands, boldly gilt tooled panels and the boards framed by a gilt roll. All edges gilt. Armorial bookplate. Internally spotless with wide margins.

Mahon: Gilles Lanlois,1756. 3 volume set 6.5 inches tall. Fine full mottled calf with gilt raised bands, twin labels and gilt floral centre tools. Pink edges. Frontispiece and woodcut ornaments. Slight damage to the headcap of volume 1 otherwise in superb condition. A lovely set of this very rare title.

Paris: Chez Prault, 1762. 4 volume set, 6.5 inches tall. A superb full mottled calf set with gilt bands, morocco and inked labels and fine floral gilt tooling to the panels. Ornamental woodcuts. A splendid set.

Amsterdam: R. & G. Wetstein, 1712. 2 volume set, 5.25 inches tall. A superb little set in an early 18th century half calf with raised bands, twin labels and gilt floral centre tools. Pink edges. The work is in 12 parts, each having an engraved plate, some with slightly frayed fore edges. There is an extremely faint trace of an owner's stamp on the title page. This great parody of the Aeneid was written by the extraordinary Paul Scarron, first husband of Madame Maintenon, future wife of Louis XIV.

Paris: Hardouin, 1784. 2 volume set, 5 inches tall. A very simple yet good looking full calf with gilt bands, twin olive labels and tiny floral centre tools. All edges gilt. With the bookseller's ticket 'Vendu par DETREZ Libraire, place Sorbonne, No 4 a Paris'. The first volume consists of 'Poésies érotiques' and 'Voyage', the second volume of 'La journée champêtre', 'Le promontroire de Leucade', Les fleurs', and 'Mélange'. With exquisite engraved plates.

Paris: Belin, 1794. 3 volume set, 6.5 inches tall. Full mottled calf with raised bands, twin labels and gilt filets. Slight worming affecting the first few leaves in the bottom corner of volume one, otherwise a fine copy in a completely pristine binding.

London: John Rivington et al, 1779. 2 vols., 8vo (7" tall). Full calf. Raised bands, exceptionally bold centre tools in elaborate gilt panels and twin red and green labels. Minor expert restoration to one head cap and slight splitting to the joints of volume 1, but still firm and a most attractive copy.

Paris: Chez La V Duchesne et al, 1770. 3 vol set, 6.5 inches tall. A most attractive 18th century quarter binding with gilt raised bands, calf and inked labels, fine floral gilt tooling to the panels.

London: Bent, 1787. Full red calf, 6.5 inches tall. A delightful binding in pristine condition. Gilt bands and very fine gilt tooling to the panels. The boards are framed by a geometric roll. Two parts with separate title pages and frontispieces. An early owners inscription on the first blank. Very curious bookplate in the form of a very delicate cut out on which is a minuscule manuscript inscription. Some worming affecting 14 leaves towards the end of the first part.

London: Cooke, 1798. Full calf, 6 inches tall. A charming, slim 18th century tree calf with gilt bands, triple labels and delightful gilt centre tools. With two bookplates and a neat contemporary owner's signature on the first blank. Embellished with engraved frontispiece, title page and portrait.

Paris: Didot, 1791. Full tree calf, 4.75 inches tall. Delightful 18th century binding with gilt bands and red label. Speckled edges.