‎SHAW Henry - Frederic MADDEN :‎
‎Illuminated Ornaments selected from manuscripts and early printed books from the sixth tot the seventeenth centuries drawn and engraved by Henry Shaw F.S.A. with descriptions by Sir Frederic Madden K.H F.R.S. .‎

‎19. London, William Pickering, 1833, first edition , large paper edition, in-folio format ( 36,5 x 26,5 cm ) , (6) nn pp + 18 pp + 40 leaves with descriptions, and 59 etched or lithographed plates heightened with printed colouring and hand-colouring. + final addendum leaf ( complete). Bound in 19th century half morocco, marbled boards, all edges gilt. Some rubbing to the gilt spine and joints, corners with some traces of use, head of spine a bit chipped. Inside : a very good , clean and stainless copy. This is a fine copy of the large-paper issue . In this edition the plates were hand finished and illuminated in real gold, rather than yellow watercolour. The first 4 plates have a highly burnished background of gold leaf.. The book was issued in 12 monthly parts each containing 5 plates. It started in June 1830. The plain issue costed 3s 6d. The coloured edition costed 7s 6d. The copy on offer here, printed in a very limited number in format Imperial Quarto, with the ornaments more highely finished in opaque colours and heightened with gold was at 15s per part (!) ( from the prospectus). A very fine copy, with illustrations which nearly match the mediaeval originals in beauty. This book is one of the finest 19th c. publications on mediaeval Western manuscripts and a gorgeous illustration of the revival of the interest in these manuscripts.‎

Reference : 50869

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