Anne Pratt; Edward Step
A lovely leather-bound four volume set which contains information on the flowers, plants, and ferns of Great Britain, written by Anne Pratt and edited by Edward Step, with over three-hundred colour plates. Complete in four volumes.A new edition, edited by Edward Step.This work is one of Anne Pratt's great contribution to the development of botanical study. The work offers a comprehensive guide to numerous plants to be found in Britain, intended as a study guide for those interested.Volume I illustrated with a colour frontispiece, seventy-seven colour plates, and four monochrome plates.Volume II illustrated with a colour frontispiece, and seventy-six colour plates.Volume III illustrated with a colour frontispiece, and seventy-nine colour plates.Volume IV illustrated with a colour frontispiece, eighty-seven plates, and one monochrome plate.Collated, complete.All of the colour plates in these volumes are striking and bright chromolithographs, brilliant examples of Victorian printing.?Anne Pratt was a popular botanical illustrator in Victorian England. She wrote many books on botanics, with the most popular being 'The Flowering Plants, Grasses, Sedges, and Ferns of Great Britain and Their Allies the Club Mosses, Pepperworts, and Horsetails', a six volume set that took twelve years to publish in full. Though her illustrations were popular at the time and brought a love of nature to many, she's sadly never received great acclaim or recognition, as she was a self-taught woman.Original wraps for Volume 1 Number 2 bound to the rear of Volume I, for Volume II Number 11 to the rear of Volume II, for Volume III Number 20 to the rear of Volume III, and for Volume IV Number 34 to the rear of Volume IV. In a half calf binding with marbled paper to the boards. Externally, generally smart. Spines are faded. Light rubbing to the leather, resulting in some loss of leather to the joints and extremities. Minor bumping to the extremities. A small amount of loss to the head of the spines of Volumes II, III, and IV, with a crack to the head of the joints of Volume IV. Lighter rubbing to the boards. Rear joint of Volume III is starting, rear hinge is strained. Front hinge of Volume I is starting but firm. Hinges of Volume IV are starting but firm. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean. Very Good
[Thomas Penrose]
The first and only edition of Thomas Penrose Junior's interesting study on the lives and writings of Dante and Petrarch, a vanishingly scarce work. The first and only edition of this vanishingly scarce work, last sold at auction in 1932.An interesting study on the lives and writings of Dante and Petrarch. Penrose discusses their important in medieval literature and philosophy, and how their writings helped to shape the Renaissance.?In this volume the author also explores the literature of Italy in the fourteenth century.?Written by Thomas Penrose Junior, the son of poet Thomas Penrose. This appears to be the junior's only work.Bookplate of H. Herman Chilton to the front paste down. Chilton was a Belgian-born lockmaking industrialist who settled in Wolverhampton after attending their Grammar School. As director of J. Legge and Co. LTD he developed a number of lock patents. He was also the author of several science fiction novels, 'Woman Unsexed', 'The Ways of June', 'The Lost Children', and 'Talking Totem'.Bookplate of Henry Chilton to the recto of the front endpaper.Bound without the adverts. In a half calf binding with cloth to the boards. Externally, a little rubbed to the leather. Minor marks to the boards, a little heavier to the front boards. Minor bumping to the extremities. Spine is lightly faded. Small cracks to the head and tail of the joints. Small amount of loss to the head and tail of the spines. Hinges are starting a little but remains firm. Bookplate to the front paste down and to the recto of the front endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very lightly age-toned and clean with a few scattered spots. Good
A Lady" [Maria Farquhar]; Ralph N. Wornum [ed.]
A first edition copy of this uncommon biographical catalogue of Italian painters, with a folding table to the rear. The first edition of this uncommon work in the publisher's original cloth binding, with the binder's label of Edmonds & Remnants to the rear paste down. This uncommon work, written by Maria Farquhar, contains biographical information on hundreds of Italian painters, and was intended as a companion to the picture galleries of Italy in the late 19th century. It was edited by Ralph Nicholson Wornum (1812?1877), a British artist and art historian, who was also the keeper and secretary of the National Gallery of London from 1855 until his death. To the rear pocket is a table of the masters of the schools of Italian painting from the thirteenth to the eighteenth century. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Externally fairly smart, with shelf wear to the boards and extremities, and an age toned label to the spine. Front hinge is slightly strained but held firmly. Pocket to rear is torn. Internally, firmly bound. The odd spot to pages throughout. The table to the rear pocket is in two pieces, with a few closed tears, but it remains intact. Good
Eric Partridge
A scarce first edition, in book form, of Eric Partridge's fascinating work on the philology of British slang, including soldiers' slang. The first edition, in book form, of this work in the publisher's original cloth binding. A scarce to see first edition, in book form, of this collection of articles on the etymology slang, including soldiers' slang, rhyming slang, euphemisms, and many more. These articles were originally published in a variety of newspapers and periodicals, such as 'The London Quarterly Review' and 'The New Statesman'. They were written by Eric Partridge (1894-1979), a New Zealand?British lexicographer. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Externally smart, with just a little fading to the spine. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean except for some offsetting to the first and last couple of pages. Very Good
Rathbone Holme [ed.]; Kathleen M. Frost [ed.]; Robert W. Symonds [intro.]
A 1949 British annual of international furniture and decorative art, with numerous photographs throughout. A first edition of this 1949 annual in the publisher's original cloth binding. The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art was first issued in 1906, as an annual review of the finest examples of contemporary architecture and applied art. It was published under that title until 1925, when it changed its name to Decorative Art, with the subtitle of The Studio Yearbook. This annual encompasses new houses and apartments, interior design including cocktail bars, furniture and furnishings, tableware, decorative ceramics, metalware, glassware and textiles. Profusely illustrated throughout with black and white photographs, and some colour photographs, with an introduction by Robert W. Symonds. 14 pages of advertisements to the rear. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Externally fairly smart, though faded, particularly to the spine and rear board. Remnants of tape to the pastedowns. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean except for a touch of age toning to the page perimeters. Very Good
Rev. Robert Aris Willmott [editor]
A beautifully illustrated collection of poetry from the nineteenth century. Illustrated with one hundred engravings. A series of poems from the most prominent British writers in the nineteenth century, including Byron, Shelley, Cowper, Coleridge, Moore, and others. Selected and edited by Robert Aris Willmott, an English author and cleric. Illustrated by the Brothers Dalziel, English wood-engravers who set up a prolific business in Victorian London. Bound by Edmonds & Remnants, London. In the original blue cloth binding with gilt decoration. Externally, sound with rubbing and bumping to the extremities. Fading to the spine and the odd mark to the board. Minor loss to the head and tail of the spine. Front hinge tender but firm. Internally, generally firmly bound. Pages are very bright and clean with the odd spot. Light age toning to the endpapers. Contemporary ink inscription to the front endpaper. Bound by Edmonds & Remnants, London. Good
Tobias Smollett; Robert Anderson
A six volume collection of the works of Tobias Smollett, with memoirs of his life included. A well presented collection in full calf binding. This set consists of six volumes, presenting the works of Tobias Smollett. Tobias Smollett was a Scottish novelist and surgeon, best known for his novels The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle, The Expeditions of Humphry Clinker and The Adventures of Roderick Random, all of which are included in this set. Smollett became well-known at the time for his comedic yet realistic style. Volume I contains The Life of Smollett and The Adventure of Roderick Random. Volume II contains The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle, Part One. Volume III contains The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle, Part Two and plays and poems. Volume IV contains The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom and Expedition Against Carthagena.Volume V contains The Adventure of Sir Launcelot Greaves and Travels through France and Italy. Volume VI contains The Expedition of Humphry Clinker and Adventures of an Atom. With bookplates in each volume and booksellers labels of N. Porter included in five out of the six volumes. With a frontispiece of Smollett to volume one and a frontispiece of Robert Anderson to volume two. In full calf binding. Externally smart, with slight shelf wear and rubbing to the extremities. Occasional marks to boards. Slight damp staining to front of volumes one and two, and tide mark to both frontispiece, not affecting illustration. Tidemark to front paste down of volumes three and four. Light scorch marks to top fore edge of novels, not affecting text. Light offsetting to endpapers. All volumes contain bookplates to front paste down. All volumes except volume six contain bookseller label to front endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages lightly age toned with the occasional spot. Offsetting from frontispieces to title page in volumes one and two. Very Good
George Eliot
The first edition of this darkly themed novel on the ruins of the Industrial Revolution by eminent Victorian author George Eliot. The first edition.Bound without the half-title and adverts.'Silas Marner' is a realism novel by George Eliot, following the life of a linen weaver in the early years of the nineteenth century.Silas, the eponymous character, lives in a small Calvinist gongrection in a slum street, Lantern Yard, in Northern England. The novel ruminates on the vanished rural world with the Industrial Revolution, a common theme in Eliot's writings.George Eliot was the pseudonym used by the writer Mary Ann Evans. She published under a male name to escape the preconceived ideas about women's fiction during the era. Eliot is one of the best known Victorian writers, and many believe that her novel 'Middlemarch' is the greatest novel in the English Language. Her other works include 'Adam Bede', 'Romola', and 'Daniel Deronda'. In a half morocco binding with marbled paper to the boards. Externally, rubbed to the boards and spine. A small amount of loss to the head of the spine. Minor bumping to the extremities. Spine is faded. Hinges are starting but firm. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright with some spotting. Lacking the half-title and adverts. Good
[Theodore Edward Hook]
A very scarce comical play by Theodore Hook, an entertaining romp which was first performed at the Haymarket Theatre Royal. The first edition of this very scare work.A comical play by Theodore Hook told in three acts, first performed at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, on the 12th August 1820.The Theatre Royal Haymarket is the third oldest London playhouse, first built in 1720. 'Exchange No Robbery' was performed there one year before the theatre moved further down the street, to a building designed by John Nash.Theodore Hook was a noted man of letters who is remembered today for his practical jokes; he received the world's first postcard in 1840, though it is thought that he sent it to himself.Bound with blank leaves in between each leaf of text.?One leaf of adverts to the rear. In a full morocco binding. Externally, rubbed. A little loss of leather to the head and tail of the spine. Minor bumping to the extremities. Front hinge is starting but firm. Internally, generally firmly bound. Pages are lightly age-toned with some spots. Tide mark to the gutter of the textblock, affecting the text, heavier to the first half. Good
Walter Tyndale
A very smart limited edition of this illustrated work on Italy, signed by the artist. This edition is limited to two hundred and fifty copies of which this is number ninety-three. Signed by the artist to the front endpaper. Illustrated with tipped-in colour frontispiece and twenty-five tipped-in colour plates. Collated complete. A detailed account of the artist's time in Italy, with commentary on the Venetian School of Painting, the Palio of Siena, San Gimignano, Pienza, and Montalcino. Written and illustrated by Walter Tyndale, a British travel writer, book illustrator, and watercolourist known for his landscapes, architecture, and street scenes. In the original full vellum binding. Externally, smart with light shelf wear and bumping to the extremities. Fading to the spine and the odd mark to the board. Light discolouration to the vellum as is typical with age. Loss of ribbon tie to the boards. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very bright with light spotting, predominantly to the first and last few pages. Very Good
Various
A scarce selection of works from the Burlington Magazine on art and artists, with many illustrations. Scarce work. Illustrated with tipped-in colour frontispiece, four tipped-in plates, and twenty-four plates. With many in-text images. A selection of articles on art, including titles such as: Notes on Oriental Carpet Patterns, Constable's Dedham Vale 1811, A Portrait of a Musician by Leonardo Da Vinci, Art in Germany, The Embroideries of the Aegen, and many others. The Burlington Magazine is a monthly publication established in 1903 that covers the fine and decorative arts of all periods. In the original quarter faux-crocodile skin with cloth boards. Externally, worn with rubbing and bumping to the extremities. Loss to the head of the spine. Splits to the joints. Fading to the spine and the odd mark to the board. Hinges tender but firm. Internally, generally firmly bound. Front endpaper loosening and could detach with further handling. Pages are bright with light scattered spotting and age toning to the endpapers. Good Only
Various
A wonderful selection of issues from The Artist, an Arts and Crafts magazine originally published between 1899 and 1900. This scarce volume is in original publisher's cloth binding.Bound without wraps so lacking bibliographical details.?This work includes copies of the magazine entitled The Artist, containing information regarding art, crafts and design. This particular volume is comprised of issues from October 1899 until September 1900. Volume 26-28. The Artist was originally an un-illustrated trade magazine, until the ownership changed in 1894 and the focus shifted to Art. In 1987 it became The Artist, An Illustrated Monthly Record of Arts, Crafts and Industries, with particular focus on the Arts and Crafts movement and decorative art. With illustrations throughout.June 1900 supplement loosely inserted with 4pp. Rebound in cloth. Externally generally smart, with slight rubbing. Cloth slightly bumped, particularly to the extremities. Hinges tender with cords visible. Slight marks to boards. Offsetting and age toning to endpapers. Spotting to endpapers. Internally firmly bound. Age toning and the occasional mark to pages. Worming to edge of pages 173-184, not affecting text. Tide marks to pages, not affecting text. Good
Various
A smart collection of short stories, with illustrations by George Cruikshank. Illustrated with frontispiece and thirty-two plates. Collated complete. A collection of exciting and entertaining short stories written by various authors of the time, with titles such as: Hunting John Dory, Sir Archibald!, The Romance of a Day, Jack in Disguise, The Battle of the Nile, and many others. With illustrations by George Cruikshank, a British caricaturist and book illustrator praised as the modern "Hogarth." Previously held in the library of Captain Basil Vassar Bruton, an English soldier who was appointed Adjutant of his Battalion shortly before he was killed in action during the First World War. In the original full cloth binding. Externally, smart with rubbing to the extremities resulting in minor loss to the head and tail of the spine. Fading to the spine and the odd mark to the board. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very bright and clean with the odd spot. A 1" closed tear to the top of page 257. Contemporary ink inscription to the front endpaper. Previous owner's bookplate and bookseller's label to the front pastedown. Good
William Beckford
A first edition two volume set of this travel work on Italy, with descriptive sketches of Spain and Portugal. The first edition of this two-volume work in half calf bindings, with marbled boards, end papers and edges. Bookplate to the front paste down of Volume I. Loosely inserted to Volume II is a small excerpt about the author. William Thomas Beckford (1760-1844) was an English novelist, art critic and politician. He is best remembered for his Gothic novel Vathek (1782), and this travel memoir, which provides an account of his journey from Ostend in Belgium to Italy, culminating in Aranjuez in Spain. In half calf bindings. Externally fairly smart, with splitting to the joints. Front board of Volume I is detached but present. Front hinge to Volume II is slightly strained but is held firmly. Rubbed to the spine and extremities. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are age toned to the page perimeters, with spotting to the first and last few pages. Otherwise, pages are generally clean. Good Only