Fine Engravings

Criteria:
  • Category = Fine Engravings
  • MAGNIFICENT BOXED SET OF MACKLIN'S GREAT BIBLE EXTENDED TO 8 VOLUMES
    The Old Testament (& New Testament), Embellished with Engravings, from Pictures and Designs by the Most Eminent English Artists. by BIBLE (MACKLIN)
    BIBLE (MACKLIN)
    The Old Testament (& New Testament), Embellished with Engravings, from Pictures and Designs by the Most Eminent English Artists.

    London: Printed for Thomas Macklin, by Thomas Bensley, 1800. 8 volumes, 19 inches tall in original box. A magnificent set of this 'sumptuous edition' (Herbert) bound by Lovejoy in superb full morocco. With double gilt raised bands, delicate gilt tooling to the panels and a series of wonderful rolls framing the boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. Sewn leather joints. The Box measures 25 x 18 x 22 inches. With the binder's ticket of John Lovejoy, one of the great binders of the period, celebrated almost exclusively for his masonic bindings, this example being a rare and spectacular exception. Embellished with 76 full page engravings by the great artists of the time including Henry Fuseli, P.J. de Loutherbourg, James…

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    London: Printed for Thomas Macklin, by Thomas Bensley, 1800. 8 volumes, 19 inches tall in original box. A magnificent set of this 'sumptuous edition' (Herbert) bound by Lovejoy in superb full morocco. With double gilt raised bands, delicate gilt tooling to the panels and a series of wonderful rolls framing the boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. Sewn leather joints. The Box measures 25 x 18 x 22 inches. With the binder's ticket of John Lovejoy, one of the great binders of the period, celebrated almost exclusively for his masonic bindings, this example being a rare and spectacular exception. Embellished with 76 full page engravings by the great artists of the time including Henry Fuseli, P.J. de Loutherbourg, James Northcote, Benjamin West, William Hamilton, Thomas Stothard, Richard Cosway, Sir Joshua Reynolds and Angelica Kauffman. A further 111 ornate vignettes are present.
    The condition is excellent with no splitting or loss, even all 16 sewn leather joints are present and correct, a feature found in only the finest bindings. There is some minor rubbing, scuffing and scratching and the margins of one leaf have been expertly repaired with no loss.
    The subscribers list is found in volume 1 and includes The King, The Queen, The Prince of Wales et al..
    One of the rarest and most impressive features of our extraordinary set is that it is in 8 volumes, all with their respective title pages. Originally intended to be printed in 3 volumes, it was actually published in 6. The Apocrypha (Published in 1816) is occasionally found with the set, making 7 volumes. We can only find record of one other set in 8 volumes (in a much poorer condition) where, as here, the New Testament is bound in 2 volumes, each with a title page, making a spectacular 8 volume set.
    The box dates from around the date of publication and no doubt explains the remarkable condition of this huge and impressive set.
    Macklin announced plans for his great folio Bible in 1789 to promote 'the glory of the English school of painting and engraving and the interests of our Holy Religion'. New type (cut by Joseph Jackson and Vincent Figgins) and new paper were created for the venture, and the historic paintings were to be 'finished in a style of elegance (and magnificence in Paper, Printing, and engraving) of which there is not in Europe or the world any example'. Macklin's project was costly and ambitious. He paid Reynolds £500 for his Holy Family and William Sharp £700 for its engraving. The average cost for 45 of the Bible's other engravings was £220 and the total cost of the publication was an estimated £30000, a truly vast sum at the time.

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  • SCARCE EDITION WITH OVER 700 PLATES IN FULL DICED CALF
    Encyclopaedia Britannica. The Sixth Edition. by ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA
    ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA
    Encyclopaedia Britannica. The Sixth Edition.

    Edinburgh: Archibald Constable and Company, 1822-24. 26 volumes (Complete 6th Edition in 20 volumes with the Supplementary edition in 6 volumes), 11 inches tall. A superb full diced calf with gilt raised bands and very fine gilt tooling to the panels. The diced boards are framed within twin gilt fillets. There is blotchiness to the panels of the first 20 volumes, some foxing and browning of leaves, a small amount of ancient superficial loss to long defunct insects, there is also a slight musty smell but the vast majority of plates and leaves are clean and there is no splitting. The first 20 volumes contain all 581 numbered engraved full page plates. The Supplement appears to lack I plate…

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    Edinburgh: Archibald Constable and Company, 1822-24. 26 volumes (Complete 6th Edition in 20 volumes with the Supplementary edition in 6 volumes), 11 inches tall. A superb full diced calf with gilt raised bands and very fine gilt tooling to the panels. The diced boards are framed within twin gilt fillets. There is blotchiness to the panels of the first 20 volumes, some foxing and browning of leaves, a small amount of ancient superficial loss to long defunct insects, there is also a slight musty smell but the vast majority of plates and leaves are clean and there is no splitting. The first 20 volumes contain all 581 numbered engraved full page plates. The Supplement appears to lack I plate but has a total of 123 (more than called for) engraved full page plates and all 19 engraved maps. The 6th edition is difficult to find in remotely presentable condition and for all its minor faults this is a splendid set. With the green ticket of G. & J. Robinson Booksellers (and Binders) Liverpool.

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  • BEST EDITION IN MAGNIFICENT FULL MOROCCO
    Anecdotes of Painting in England. by WALPOLE, Horace.
    WALPOLE, Horace.
    Anecdotes of Painting in England.

    London: Printed at the Shakspeare Press for John Major and Robert Jennings, 1828. 5 volume set, 10 inches tall. A splendid tall set in full hard grain morocco by Clarke & Bedford, one of the greatest names of the period. With gilt raised bands and very fine extra gilt tooling to the panels. Gilt fillets, and superb gilt tooling with corner devices frame the boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. With the bookplates of William Strahan and Alfred de Rothschild. This celebrated edition has the plates in 2 states, with the proofs laid down on india paper. Slight foxing but overall a fine set of this great edition.

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  • STUNNING EXTRA ILLUSTRATED SET IN CRUSHED MOROCCO
    Oeuvres de Salomon Gessner by GESSNER, Salomon
    GESSNER, Salomon
    Oeuvres de Salomon Gessner

    Paris: L’auteur des Estampes, 1786-1793. 3 volume set, 12 inches tall. An old tipped in catalogue entry attributes this magnificent binding to Charles Lewis. With wide gilt raised bands, delicate and ornate gilt tooling to the panels, twin labels, dentelles and all edges gilt. Complete with 3 engraved title pages, portrait and 73 engraved plates after Le Barbier. There are an extra 18 stipple engraved plates and 70 highly decorative vignettes. Some speckling and scuffing to the boards. A super copy of this beautiful 18th century deluxe edition.

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  • RARE TITLE WITH ALL 84 PLATES IN BEAUTIFUL REGENCY FULL CALF
    Antiquities of Great Britain. Illustrated in views of Monasteries, Castles, and Churches, now existing. by HEARNE, Thomas (drawings by). BYRNE, William (engraved by).
    HEARNE, Thomas (drawings by). BYRNE, William (engraved by).
    Antiquities of Great Britain. Illustrated in views of Monasteries, Castles, and Churches, now existing.

    London: T. Hearne and W. Byrne, 1786 & London: Cadell and Davies, 1807. 2 volumes bound in one, 16 1/2 inches tall. A beautiful tall, full Regency diced calf with blind tooled raised bands, ornate gilt tooling to the panels and a wide gilt roll framing the boards. The first title page is engraved and the second undecorated title page to volume 1 is not bound in. The title page to the second volume is present, as are all the large and highly attractive engraved views, 52 (including the first title page) in the first volume and 32 in the second, making a total of 84. Each engraved view is followed by a leaf with details in English and…

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    London: T. Hearne and W. Byrne, 1786 & London: Cadell and Davies, 1807. 2 volumes bound in one, 16 1/2 inches tall. A beautiful tall, full Regency diced calf with blind tooled raised bands, ornate gilt tooling to the panels and a wide gilt roll framing the boards. The first title page is engraved and the second undecorated title page to volume 1 is not bound in. The title page to the second volume is present, as are all the large and highly attractive engraved views, 52 (including the first title page) in the first volume and 32 in the second, making a total of 84. Each engraved view is followed by a leaf with details in English and French. Copies with all the plates are very rare, especially in such a magnificent binding of the period. There is some rubbing to the shoulders but no splitting or loss. There is some foxing to the preliminaries but otherwise remarkably clean.

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  • TALL QUARTO IN LOVELY PINK HALF CALF
    The Works of Horatio Walpole, Earl of Orford. by WALPOLE, Horace
    WALPOLE, Horace
    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…

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    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.

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  • FINELY ILLUSTRATED WORK IN MAGNIFICENT FULL MOROCCO
    The History of the Monastery founded at Tynemouth in the Diocese of Durham. by GIBSON, William Sidney
    GIBSON, William Sidney
    The History of the Monastery founded at Tynemouth in the Diocese of Durham.

    London: William Pickering, 1846. 2 volume set, 12 inches tall. A magnificent crushed morocco by J. Clarke with gilt raised bands, very finely tooled panels, gilt dentelles and all edges. With the gilt embossed arms of Earl Cawdor on the boards. Beautifully embellished with 16 plates, 3 coloured, 1 folded and 60 illuminated initials. Some foxing to the engraved plates, otherwise pristine. A very fine set.

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  • MAGNIFICENT BEST EDITION IN WONDERFUL FULL MOROCCO
    The Border Antiquities of England and Scotland. by SCOTT, Walter
    SCOTT, Walter
    The Border Antiquities of England and Scotland.

    London: Longman et al., 1814. Full morocco, 15 inches tall. A magnificent tall full hard grain morocco with gilt raised bands, superb twin labels and spectacular gilt tooling to the panels. The boards are framed by triple gilt fillets and centre tools. Gilt dentelles and all edges. Embellished with 95 splendid engravings. The tallest and best edition of this work in an exceptional binding.

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  • EXTRAORDINARY GILT TOOLED STRAIGHT GRAIN CALF
    Switzerland. Illustrated in a Series of Views. by BEATTIE, William (BARTLETT, W.H.)
    BEATTIE, William (BARTLETT, W.H.)
    Switzerland. Illustrated in a Series of Views.

    London: Virtue, 1836. Full straight grain morocco, 11 inches tall. A fabulously bound set with extraordinary gilt and white metal tooled spine and boards.the elaborate 'cathedral' design on all four boards is made up from individual tooling, as is the superb tooling on the spines. All edges gilt. Illustrated with 2 engraved titles and 106 full page engraved views and I folding map. Some foxing to the plates and slight fading to the spine, but still a fine and spectacular set.

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  • A MAGNIFICENT SET OF THIS LARGE PAPER DELUXE EDITION
    Histoire de Gil Blas de Santillane. by LESAGE, Alain-René
    LESAGE, Alain-René
    Histoire de Gil Blas de Santillane.

    London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, et Orme, 1809. 4 volume set, 11 inches tall. A magnificent crushed and straight grain morocco with triple gilt and blind tooled raised bands and dense gilt tooling to the panels. The boards have a central straight grain panel framed by very fine and elaborate gilt and blind tooling. Gilt dentelles and all edges. Large Paper deluxe edition with india proof impressions of the plates by Smirke. Offsetting from the plates, otherwise clean. The armorial bookplate of William Strahan. Some rubbing and scuffing to the edges but with no splitting or loss. An exceptionally impressive example of this celebrated edition. In the original French.

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  • PRISTINE TALL COPY IN SUMPTUOUS FULL MOROCCO BY BEDFORD
    George Cruikshank's Table-Book. by CRUIKSHANK, George (illustrator). À BECKETT, Gilbert Abbott (Edited by).
    CRUIKSHANK, George (illustrator). À BECKETT, Gilbert Abbott (Edited by).
    George Cruikshank's Table-Book.

    London, The Punch Office, 1845. Full morocco, 10 inches tall. A pristine example of this classic comic work bound in sumptuous full morocco by the great firm of Bedford, from the library of a Scottish Gentleman. An exceptionally tall copy with gilt raised bands, ornate floral gilt tooling to the panels, triple gilt fillet framing the boards, wide gilt dentelles and top edge gilt. Embellished with 12 full page steel engravings and 117 superb engraved vignettes. With over 50 leaves of highly entertaining advertisements. As fine a copy as one could hope to find.

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  • BRILLIANT COMIC WORK IN WONDERFUL FULL MOROCCO BY BEDFORD
    Points of Humour; Illustrated by the Designs of George Cruikshank. by CRUIKSHANK, George
    CRUIKSHANK, George
    Points of Humour; Illustrated by the Designs of George Cruikshank.

    London: C. Baldwyn, 1823. 2 volumes bound in 1, 9 1/4 inches tall. A wonderful full morocco binding by the great firm of Bedford from the library of a Scottish Gentleman. Gilt raised bands, exceptionally fine gilt tooling to the panels and triple gilt fillets framing the boards. Gilt dentelles and top edge. A curious comic work in which Cruikshank " selects or invents those incidents which might be interesting or amusing in themselves, while they afford scope for the peculiar talents of the artist who adorns them with his designs". Both volumes contains 10 themes, each illustrated with a full page wood engraving. There are further engraved vignettes on India paper throughout. With 6 leaves of advertisements bound in. An absolutely pristine copy of the first edition.

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  • RARE COLOUR PLATE BOOK IN FULL MOROCCO BY TOUT
    A Touch at the Fine Arts by ALKEN, Henry
    ALKEN, Henry
    A Touch at the Fine Arts

    London: Thomas McLean, 1824. Full morocco, 11.25 inches tall. A very fine binding by TOUT with gilt raised bands, floral gilt tooling to the panels and elaborate gilt tooling to the boards. Wide dentelles, doublures and gilt top edge. 12 superb hand coloured lithographs satirising the arts.

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  • CLASSIC COMIC WORK IN SUPERB TALL FULL MOROCCO
    George Cruikshank's Omnibus by CRUIKSHANK, George. (Edited by BLANCHARD, Laman).
    CRUIKSHANK, George. (Edited by BLANCHARD, Laman).
    George Cruikshank's Omnibus

    London: Tilt and Bogue, 1842. Full morocco, 9 1/2 inches tall. In pristine condition in a wonderful binding by the great firm of Bedford from the library of a Scottish Gentleman. With gilt raised bands and very fine gilt floral tooling to the panels. Triple gilt fillets frame the boards, gilt dentelles and top edge. The first edition of this classic comic work embellished with 22 full page engravings and a further 78 woodcut vignettes by George Cruikshank. Bound with 48 leaves of advertisements and the original covers of the original parts. As fine a copy of this splendid work as one could hope to find.

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  • 60 FULL PAGE ENGRAVED VIEWS IN SUPERB FULL MOROCCO
    Italian Scenery. From Drawings made in 1817. by BATTY, Miss (Elizabeth Frances)
    BATTY, Miss (Elizabeth Frances)
    Italian Scenery. From Drawings made in 1817.

    London: Rodwell and Martin, 1820. Full straight grain morocco, 10.5 inches tall. A glorious Regency binding with wide gilt raised bands and dense blind tooling to the panels. The boards are magnificently tooled in blind and gilt. All edges gilt. There is a tiny amount of worming effecting the gutter of the front endpaper and preliminaries. With 60 splendid views and vignette on the title page. A superb example of this scarce work.

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  • 60 FULL PAGE ENGRAVED VIEWS IN SUPERB FULL MOROCCO
    Italian Scenery. From Drawings made in 1817. by BATTY, Miss (Elizabeth Frances)
    BATTY, Miss (Elizabeth Frances)
    Italian Scenery. From Drawings made in 1817.

    London: Rodwell and Martin, 1820. Full morocco, 10.5 inches tall. A most attractive binding with twin gilt raised bands and extra gilt tooling to the panels. The boards are also densely decorated with gilt and blind tooling framing an elaborate central device. Gilt dentelles and all edges. Slightly rubbed but still a fine firm and clean example. With 60 splendid views and vignette on the title page. A superb example of this scarce work.

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  • SUPERB REGENCY FULL STRAIGHT GRAIN MOROCCO BINDING
    Rasselas by JOHNSON, Samuel
    JOHNSON, Samuel
    Rasselas

    London: Hector M'lean, 1819. Full straight grain morocco, 10.5 inches tall. A very fine Regency binding with wide extra gilt raised bands and panels. The boards are framed within wide gilt and blind rolls. All edges gilt. Fine engraved plates by Smirke. From the Library and with the bookplate of Robert J. Hayhurst.

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  • COMPLETE WITH 65 PLATES IN SUPERB FULL CALF
    Les Augustes Répresentations de tous les Roys de France depuis Pharamond, jusqu’à Louys XIIII, dit le Grand. by L’ARMESSIN NICOLAS, de
    L’ARMESSIN NICOLAS, de
    Les Augustes Répresentations de tous les Roys de France depuis Pharamond, jusqu’à Louys XIIII, dit le Grand.

    Paris: chez la Veuve P. Bertrand, 1714. Full calf, 11 inches tall. Splendid full later cat's paw calf with gilt raised bands, twin labels and fine floral gilt tooled panels. Gilt dentelles and pink edges. With 65 portraits of the French kings. Some foxing to the preliminaries. Expert repair to the title page. With the bookplates of the Marquis de Biencourt of the Château de Masfaure.

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  • EXTRA ILLUSTRATED SET IN HALF MOROCCO BY TOUT
    ‘Mann’ and Manners at the Court of Florence, 1740-1786, founded on the Letters of Horace Mann to Horace Walpole. by DORAN, Dr.
    DORAN, Dr.
    ‘Mann’ and Manners at the Court of Florence, 1740-1786, founded on the Letters of Horace Mann to Horace Walpole.

    London: Richard Bentley, 1876. 2 volume set, 9 inches tall. A superbly bound set by Tout with gilt raised bands, very fine gilt tooling to the panels and gilt top edges. Extra illustrated with 124 engraved plates. From the library of Brian Forbes, the Film Director. A unique and most elegant item bound by one of the most celebrated firms of binders of the period.

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  • TALL EDITION WITH 42 PLATES IN SPLENDID FULL MOROCCO
    Tourist in Spain, Biscay and the Castiles. by ROBERTS, David. JENNINGS, Robert
    ROBERTS, David. JENNINGS, Robert
    Tourist in Spain, Biscay and the Castiles.

    London: Jennings, n.d. c.1837. Full morocco, 11.5 inches tall. A splendid binding from the beginning of the Victorian period with wide gilt raised bands, magnificent tooling to the boards and all edges gilt. Including the title page there are 42 engraved views by David Roberts. Foxing, particularly heavy on the title page. With the bookseller's ticket of Pocock of Bath. A rare tall edition, with no text, in a spectacular binding.

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