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  • Category = Fine Set
  • SUPERB 18th CENTURY TREE CALF COUNTRY HOUSE BINDING
    The Works of Peter Pindar. by PINDAR, Peter. (WOLCOT, John).
    PINDAR, Peter. (WOLCOT, John).
    The Works of Peter Pindar.

    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.

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  • A WONDERFUL SET IN CLASSIC VICTORIAN FULL CALF
    The Poetical Works of Robert Browning. by BROWNING, Robert
    BROWNING, Robert
    The Poetical Works of Robert Browning.

    London: Smith, Elder, & Co., 1889. 17 volume set, 7 inches tall. A classic Victorian full calf for Sotheran with gilt raised bands, twin labels and beautiful floral gilt tooling to the panels. Dentelles and all edges gilt. Twin gilt fillets and corner tools frame the boards. From the library and with the bookplates of Alfred de Rothschild. A wonderful set of the poetical works of one of the greatest and most influential English 19th century poets.

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  • GREAT STORY TELLER IN SPLENDID HALF TERRACOTTA MOROCCO
    The Writings of Bret Harte. by HARTE, Bret
    HARTE, Bret
    The Writings of Bret Harte.

    Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1896. 19 volume complete set, 8 1/4 inches tall. A splendid earthy terracotta morocco binding, somehow fitting for the tales of Harte, with gilt raised bands, handsomely framed gilt floral centre tools and gilt top edges. Bookplates and owner's name in ink on the half-titles. 'The Standard Library Edition'. Illustrated throughout. The bindings are in fine condition with the occasional mark but absolutely no signs of wear, splitting or loss. Bret Harte was a greatly admired and popular American short story writer and poet, famed for his description of miners, gamblers and other romantic characters of the Californian Gold Rush. While a reporter he covered the 1860 massacre of around 200…

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    Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1896. 19 volume complete set, 8 1/4 inches tall. A splendid earthy terracotta morocco binding, somehow fitting for the tales of Harte, with gilt raised bands, handsomely framed gilt floral centre tools and gilt top edges. Bookplates and owner's name in ink on the half-titles. 'The Standard Library Edition'. Illustrated throughout. The bindings are in fine condition with the occasional mark but absolutely no signs of wear, splitting or loss. Bret Harte was a greatly admired and popular American short story writer and poet, famed for his description of miners, gamblers and other romantic characters of the Californian Gold Rush. While a reporter he covered the 1860 massacre of around 200 Wiyot Indians in California, condemning the slayings, "A more shocking and revolting spectacle never was exhibited to the eyes of a Christian and civilized people. Old women wrinkled and decrepit lay weltering in blood, their brains dashed out and dabbled with their long gray hair. Infants scarce a span long, with their faces cloven with hatchets and their bodies ghastly with wounds." Harte was forced to leave his post, eventually moving to the East Coast, then to Europe, finally settling in England, where he died in 1902.

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  • BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED EDITION IN MAGNIFICENT FULL MOROCCO
    The Works of Shakspere. Imperial Edition. by SHAKESPEARE, William
    SHAKESPEARE, William
    The Works of Shakspere. Imperial Edition.

    London: Virtue & Co., 1875. 2 volume set, 15 inches tall. A tall and magnificent full morocco by Flude, Birch & Skelt, and with their ticket, with twin gilt raised bands and splendid gilt and blind tooling to the panels and boards. With fine gilt dentelles and all edges. Bookplate. Complete with all 39 full page engravings and 2 engraved vignettes on the title pages. Some light foxing and offsetting from a few plates, overall an usually clean and neat set of this monumental edition.

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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.

    View basket More details Price: £1,850.00
  • 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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  • MAGNIFICENT LARGE PAPER SET IN FULL GEORGIAN DICED CALF
    Bucolica, Georgica, et Aeneis. by VIRGIL
    VIRGIL
    Bucolica, Georgica, et Aeneis.

    Londini (London): Apud A. Dulae & Co., 1800. 2 volume set, 11 inches tall. A beautiful and magnificent large-paper edition in full diced calf with gilt raised bands, gilt pallets, dentelles and a gilt roll framing the diced boards. This " is certainly the most beautiful octavo publication of the poet extant... the text is supposed to be faultless. Some few copies are struck off on LARGE PAPER, in imperial octavo, and sell high" (Dibdin). With the leather bookplate of Granville Hastings Wheler of Otterden Place. Embellished with 15 plates by Bartolozzi, James Fittler, J. Neagle, and Sharp, after Gerard and Girode. Exceptionally clean inside and out. In the original Latin.

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  • COLLECTION OF EARLY EDITIONS IN WONDERFUL PANELED CALF
    History of the English People; The Making of England; The Conquest of England. by GREEN, John Richard
    GREEN, John Richard
    History of the English People; The Making of England; The Conquest of England.

    London: Macmillan, 1877-1880; 1881; 1883. 6 volume collection, 9 inches tall. A set of the 3 great histories by Green bound beautifully by Hopkins of Glasgow. With gilt raised bands, triple olive green labels and exquisite gilt tooling in the panels. The boards are decorated in the style of 17th century Cambridge panels, speckled and stenciled. Gilt dentelles and top edges. A few superficial abrasions. As nice a late Victorian bound set as one could hope to find.

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  • MAGNIFICENT FULL MOROCCO BY MACKENZIE BINDER TO THE KING
    The History of The Reformation of The Church of England. by BURNET, Gilbert
    BURNET, Gilbert
    The History of The Reformation of The Church of England.

    Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1816. 3 volume set, bound in 6, 10 inches tall. A magnificent Georgian binding in full crushed morocco by J. Mackenzie Bookbinder to the King with raised bands and superb extra gilt tooling to the panels. A smart series of gilt fillets frame the boards. Gilt dentelles on the unusually deep squares. With the armorial bookplate of Joseph Neeld. The binding which almost glows, and text are in pristine condition. A splendid set of this great seventeenth century history in defence of Henry VIII's reformation of the English Church and destruction of the monasteries.

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  • TALL, RARE EDITION IN SUPERB HALF MOROCCO
    The Arte of English Poesie. by PUTTENHAM, George.
    PUTTENHAM, George.
    The Arte of English Poesie.

    London: Printed by Harding and Wright in St. John's Square for Robert Triphook, 1811-1815. 2 volume set, 10 inches tall. A superb half morocco by J(eremiah) Larkins with gilt raised bands and exceptionally fine gilt tooling to the panels. Gilt top edges, the remainder being deckled. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey. George Puttenham was a 16th century writer and critic. Court records describe him as a 'compulsive adulterer, a serial rapist and a wife-beater', he was also probably the author of 'The Arte of English Poesie', first printed in 1589. It is considered the most systematic and comprehensive treatise of the time on its subject. It is 'contrived into three books: the first…

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    London: Printed by Harding and Wright in St. John's Square for Robert Triphook, 1811-1815. 2 volume set, 10 inches tall. A superb half morocco by J(eremiah) Larkins with gilt raised bands and exceptionally fine gilt tooling to the panels. Gilt top edges, the remainder being deckled. From the Library of the Late Christopher Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey. George Puttenham was a 16th century writer and critic. Court records describe him as a 'compulsive adulterer, a serial rapist and a wife-beater', he was also probably the author of 'The Arte of English Poesie', first printed in 1589. It is considered the most systematic and comprehensive treatise of the time on its subject. It is 'contrived into three books: the first of poets and poesies, the second of proportion, the third of ornament.' There is no doubt about the importance of the work, with many later "poetics" indebted to this book. The first edition is exceedingly rare and this tall fine edition of 1811-1815, on hand-made paper, is itself extremely scarce. This is an exceptional example of it.

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  • BEST EDITION IN SUPERB FULL STRAIGHT GRAIN MOROCCO
    The Works of Robert Burns by BURNS, Robert
    BURNS, Robert
    The Works of Robert Burns

    Edinburgh: William Paterson, 1877-79. 6 volume set, 9 inches tall. A superb late Victorian full straight grain morocco binding by Kerr & Richardson with gilt raised bands, delicately gilt framed panels and a gilt bust of Burns in the top panels. Twin gilt fillets frame the boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. The text block is exceptionally clean. Profusely illustrated with portraits, plates and vignettes. A first edition of the the great William Scott Douglas edition in which the poems are arranged chronologically and in which the text and notes are the most complete and correct. A splendid set of this great edition in a fine binding by a great firm of Glasgow binders.

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  • SPARKLING COLLECTION IN FULL CALF BY BUMPUS
    Jorrocks's Jaunts and Jollities; Hawbuck Grange; Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour; Handley Cross; Ask Mama; Plain or Ringlets; Mr. Facey Romford Hounds. by SURTEES, Robert Smith
    SURTEES, Robert Smith
    Jorrocks's Jaunts and Jollities; Hawbuck Grange; Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour; Handley Cross; Ask Mama; Plain or Ringlets; Mr. Facey Romford Hounds.

    London: Walter Spiers, 1838; Longman et al., 1847; Bradbury and Evans, 1853; Bradbury and Evans, 1854; Bradbury and Evans, 1858; Bradbury and Evans, 1860; Bradbury and Evans, 1865. 7 volumes, 8 1/2 inches tall. Splendid, sparkling full calf by Bumpus with gilt raised bands, 'country' gilt centre tools, triple labels (excepting the first novel, 'Jorrocks's Jaunts' which was published anonymously) and with gilt corner tools and triple fillets framing the boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. These are all first editions in single volume book form excepting 'Handley Cross'. "Jorrocks's Jaunts' has 12 full page illustrations by 'Phiz', 'Hawbuck Grange' 8 plates by 'Phiz', the remainder have hand coloured plates by Leech. Some foxing and a small superficial stain to the lower board of 'Jorrocks's Jaunts'. A wonderful collection of these hilarious, vulgar and rollicking novels of English Country life in the early nineteenth century

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  • FINE SET IN ELEGANT FULL CALF
    The Works of Lord Byron. by BYRON, Lord. MOORE, Thomas (the Life of Lord Byron)
    BYRON, Lord. MOORE, Thomas (the Life of Lord Byron)
    The Works of Lord Byron.

    London: John Murray, 1832. 17 volume set, 6 1/2 inches tall. A very elegant William IV full calf with gilt raised bands, twin labels and neat gilt tooling, typical of the period. A gilt roll frames the boards. Very slight rubbing, but still a super set of the works of one of the greatest of English poets and leader of the Roman movement.

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  • MAGNIFICENT SET IN FULL SPECKLED CALF BY R. RIVIERE
    The Life of Oliver Goldsmith. by PRIOR, James
    PRIOR, James
    The Life of Oliver Goldsmith.

    London: John Murray, 1837. 2 volume set, 8 1/2 inches tall. A beautifully bound set in full speckled calf with gilt raised bands, twin labels and wonderful gilt tooling surrounding a cornucopia to the panels. The boards are framed with a single gilt roll. This is a choice example of the early work of one of the great names in English bookbinding. Robert Riviere began as a bookseller and binder in Bath in 1829, then set up shop as a binder in London in 1840. Nixon notes that Riviere's 'outstanding ability was fully established by 1851, when he was chosen as the binder of the special edition of the Great Exhibition catalogue'. From 1881 the firm became known as…

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    London: John Murray, 1837. 2 volume set, 8 1/2 inches tall. A beautifully bound set in full speckled calf with gilt raised bands, twin labels and wonderful gilt tooling surrounding a cornucopia to the panels. The boards are framed with a single gilt roll. This is a choice example of the early work of one of the great names in English bookbinding. Robert Riviere began as a bookseller and binder in Bath in 1829, then set up shop as a binder in London in 1840. Nixon notes that Riviere's 'outstanding ability was fully established by 1851, when he was chosen as the binder of the special edition of the Great Exhibition catalogue'. From 1881 the firm became known as Riviere and son. Armorial bookplate of the celebrated collector Edward Nicholas Hurt. As usual with his books this set is in pristine condition.

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  • 1 OF 150 COPIES IN GORGEOUS FULL CALF
    The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley. by SHELLEY, Percy Bysshe
    SHELLEY, Percy Bysshe
    The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley.

    London: George Bell, 1892. 5 volume set, 7 1/2 inches tall. A gorgeous full calf by Sotheran of Piccadilly with gilt raised bands, twin labels and gilt tooled panels. The boards are framed within corner tools and twin fillets. gilt dentelles and top edges. 150 copies of the Large Paper Edition, of which this is number 65, have been printed of this Aldine edition. Portrait. A delightful set of the works of this great romantic English poet.

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  • FIRST EDITION IN A MOST ATTRACTIVE AND UNUSUAL FULL CALF
    Répertoire du Théâtre François, ou Recueil des Tragédies et Comédies, Restées au Théâtre depuis Rotrou, pour faire suite aux éditions in-octavo de Corneille, Molière, Racine, Regnard, Crébillon, et au théâtre de Voltaire. Avec des Notices sur chaque auteur, et l'examen de chaque pièce. by PETITOT, Claude Bernard
    PETITOT, Claude Bernard
    Répertoire du Théâtre François, ou Recueil des Tragédies et Comédies, Restées au Théâtre depuis Rotrou, pour faire suite aux éditions in-octavo de Corneille, Molière, Racine, Regnard, Crébillon, et au théâtre de Voltaire. Avec des Notices sur chaque auteur, et l'examen de chaque pièce.

    Paris: Perlet, 1803. 23 volume set, 8 1/4 inches tall. A most attractive and unusual full calf from the period of publication. The very elegant spines have gilt bands, twin labels and ornate and delicate centre tooling, typical of the period. A fine gilt roll frames the boards which blend tree calf with speckled lozenges in a superb fashion. Minor rubbing. With the armorial bookplates of Lord Kinnaird. A lovely set of Petitot's greatest work.

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  • A MAGNIFICENT SET WITH INTERESTING PROVENANCE
    The History of the Life of King Henry the Second. by LYTTLETON, George, Lord
    LYTTLETON, George, Lord
    The History of the Life of King Henry the Second.

    London: Sandby and Dodsley, 1767 & 1767; Dodsley, 1771. 3 volume set, 11 1/4 inches tall. A magnificent set with gilt raised bands, remarkable twin labels and ornate gilt tooling to the panels. The 3rd volume, which was printed a few years later has variations to the binding, in particular the labels and more conventional end papers, contrasting with the continental blue wavy paper used in the first 2 volumes. Volume I contains a prefix, being 'The History of the Revolutions of England from the Death of Edward the Confessor to the Birth of Henry II' and Book I with notes and appendix. Volume II contains Book II and Book III with notes, appendix and index. Volume III contains…

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    London: Sandby and Dodsley, 1767 & 1767; Dodsley, 1771. 3 volume set, 11 1/4 inches tall. A magnificent set with gilt raised bands, remarkable twin labels and ornate gilt tooling to the panels. The 3rd volume, which was printed a few years later has variations to the binding, in particular the labels and more conventional end papers, contrasting with the continental blue wavy paper used in the first 2 volumes. Volume I contains a prefix, being 'The History of the Revolutions of England from the Death of Edward the Confessor to the Birth of Henry II' and Book I with notes and appendix. Volume II contains Book II and Book III with notes, appendix and index. Volume III contains Book IV, 'The Last Book' (Book V) and notes, appendix, index and errata. 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 sporadic foxing, scuffing and rubbing and the top corner of the upper board of Volume I has been bumped with some loss of leather. Lord George Lyttleton was an English statesman, author and landscape gardener. He was a friend and supporter of Alexander Pope in the 1730s and of Henry Fielding in the 1750s; the latter dedicated his greatest novel Tom Jones to Lyttelton.

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  • MAGNIFICENT SET OF THIS EXTRAORDINARY WORK IN FULL EMBOSSED MOROCCO.
    A Series of Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings. With Biographical Sketches and Illustrative Anecdotes. by KAY, John
    KAY, John
    A Series of Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings. With Biographical Sketches and Illustrative Anecdotes.

    Edinburgh: Hugh Paton, Carver and Gilder to her Majesty Queen Victoria, 1837-38. 2 volumes bound in 4, 10 1/2 inches tall. A spectacular set of the first edition of this extraordinary and hilarious works with its 329 etched plates in superb condition. In a full early Victorian hard grained embossed morocco with raised bands and very fine blind tooling to the spine and boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. There is very slight fading to the spines and a couple of tiny scuffs, otherwise in pristine condition. There is a little offsetting from the plates and a small tear to the folding plate otherwise clean. This famous collection of portraits by the Edinburgh engraver John Kay (1742-1826) was later…

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    Edinburgh: Hugh Paton, Carver and Gilder to her Majesty Queen Victoria, 1837-38. 2 volumes bound in 4, 10 1/2 inches tall. A spectacular set of the first edition of this extraordinary and hilarious works with its 329 etched plates in superb condition. In a full early Victorian hard grained embossed morocco with raised bands and very fine blind tooling to the spine and boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. There is very slight fading to the spines and a couple of tiny scuffs, otherwise in pristine condition. There is a little offsetting from the plates and a small tear to the folding plate otherwise clean. This famous collection of portraits by the Edinburgh engraver John Kay (1742-1826) was later reprinted in 1842 and 1877. 'Kay's caricatures provide light relief in the field of portraiture at the end of the eighteenth century. He quickly and deftly summed up the characters of those living in a very prosperous Georgian Edinburgh' (ODNB). A really nice set.

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  • SUPERB SET IN BEAUTIFUL REGENCY STRAIGHT-GRAIN MOROCCO
    A Catalogue of the Royal and Noble Authors of England, Scotland, and Ireland; with Lists of their Works. by WALPOLE, Horatio, Earl of Orford. PARK, Thomas (enlarged and continued to the present time by).
    WALPOLE, Horatio, Earl of Orford. PARK, Thomas (enlarged and continued to the present time by).
    A Catalogue of the Royal and Noble Authors of England, Scotland, and Ireland; with Lists of their Works.

    London: John Scott, 1806. 5 volume set, 9 inches tall. A beautiful Regency set in straight grain morocco bindings with gilt raised bands, blind bands and fine gilt tooling to the panels. Splendid panels have been constructed with gilt and blind tooling to the boards, so typical of the period. Gilt dentelles and all edges. Watered-silk end papers. With the armorial bookplate of Frederick H. Dutton of Sherborne House. There is a neat previous owner's name in ink on the title pages. Embellished with 150 engraved plates. A very fine set.

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  • A FINE EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED SET IN GLORIOUS FULL MOROCCO
    Coleridge's Works. From the Crown Edition of The Poets of Great Britain. by COLERIDGE, Samuel Taylor
    COLERIDGE, Samuel Taylor
    Coleridge's Works. From the Crown Edition of The Poets of Great Britain.

    London and New York: Chiswick Press, Charles Whittingham and Co., c.1900. 2 volumes, 6 3/4 inches tall. A glorious full morocco binding almost certainly by The Harcourt Bindery of Boston with gilt raised bands and remarkable floral gilt tooling and onlays to the panels and boards. Wide gilt dentelles frame exquisite green crushed morocco doublures featuring a red rose. Watered silk free endpapers. All edges gilt. These two volumes, containing the works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, were part of a deluxe set, the Crown Edition, of 'The Poets of Great Britain' originally published in 72 volumes. This extra-illustrated set in this splendid binding is believed to be number 1 of 10 such sets. A superb set of the works of this great romantic poet.

    View basket More details Price: £1,500.00