I have been in the rare and antiquarian book business for over forty years; my family has been in the rare books business since 1876. Rare books are in my blood.
Works of Art in the Collections of England
London: Holloway and Son, 1873. Item #04399
One of a Very Few Copies Specially Bound by Holloway
LIÈVRE, Édouard. Works of Art in the Collections of England. Drawn by Édouard Lièvre author of: "Collections Célébres D' Oeuvres D'Art en France" and engraved by Bracquemond, Courtry, Flameng, Greux, Le Rat, Lhermitte, J. Lièvre, Muzelle, Rajon, Randall and Valentin. London: Holloway and Son, [1873].
One of 100 Proof Copies printed on fine paper.
Large folio (19 15/16 x 13 5/8 inches; 507 x 345 mm.). [i, half-title], [ii, limitation leaf], [iii, title-page, printed in red and black with India Paper portrait affixed], [iv, photograph of lady on horseback affixed to page], [v-viii, list of subscribers, printed in red and black], [ix-x, contents leaf, printed in red and black], [1-50, text leaves printed in red and black]. Fifty proof plates on India Paper, each one interleaved with a blank. Some very light intermittent foxing to a few leaves, otherwise fine.
Publisher's Deluxe Binding of full green morocco (stamp-signed in black on front turn-in) "Bound by Holloway".
Covers very elaborately decorated in gilt, spine with five raised bands, also elaborately decorated and lettered in gilt in compartments. Double-ruled gilt board edges, elaborate gilt tooled wide turn-ins, all edges gilt. Armorial Shield "Advance With Courage" stamped in gilt on front paste-down. Slight fading to front cover edges and spine, still a very fine example.
"The objects of art selected for representation are from many of our most famous collections, including those of Her Majesty, Sir Richard Wallace, Sir Dudley Marjoribanks, Barons Lionel and Anthony de Rothschild, and the British and South Kensington Museums. The examples have been chosen with judgment, and what with the exquisite beauty of the original objects, and the wondrous accuracy and art of their reproduction on paper, this rare portfolio is well worthy of a place among the chief treasures of any art library, public or private."
"This very beautiful book was issued for Subscribers only; a few copies were printed in excess,of which there remains a limited number… The objects suitable for reproduction have been carefully selected from the celebrated Collections, several of the most distinguished Amateurs having placed their treasures at the disposal of the artists and publishers." Published 1873 @ £15.15.00). (Bernard Quaritch's October 1883 Catalogue of Works on the Fine Arts, the Galleries, etc.).
This copy was a sometime purchased from Bernard Quaritch of London (their collation marks in pencil at back).
Price: $1,100.00