Design

London: J. Robson, 1796. 2 volume set, 8 1/2 inches tall. A most attractive copy of this influential work in 18th century tree calf with gilt bands, red label and delicate gilt centre tooling, typical of the period. With the bookplate of Bride Head, a recently dispersed Dorset Country House. This enlarged 2 volume edition compares the picturesque with "the sublime and the beautiful; and, on the use of studying pictures, for the purpose of improving real landscape".

St Petersburg, Shipovnik, 1906. Full morocco, 6 1/2 inches tall. An extraordinarily rare Russian volume on the designs of Aubrey Beardsley in a full crushed morocco in a binding stamped by Oliver & Boyd. The binding has gilt raised bands, simple gilt tooling to the panels and ornate gilt tooling to the boards incorporating peacocks, fountain and swags. Gilt dentelles and all edges. This volume is the first album of Beardsley’s designs published in Russia and contains 57 full page designs and 2 vignettes. We can find no other complete example, let alone in this condition, which could be described as mint. From the celebrated library of fine bindings of a Scottish Banker.