The Gallery of Portraits.

ETON PRIZE BINDING

The Gallery of Portraits: With Memoirs.

Seven volumes. Illustrated with 168 engraved portraits with their original tissue guards as well as numerous illustrations within the text. First edition. 4to. [275 x 195 x 220 mm]. Bound in contemporary full burgundy grained morocco, the boards tooled in gilt with a triple fillet border and a floral tool in each corner. The spine divided into six panels by tooled raised bands, lettered in gilt in the second and third, the rest with ornately tooled compartments in gilt, the edges of the boards and turn-ins tooled in gilt with a matching roll, marbled endleaves, gilt edges. (Spines faded and a touch rubbed, light wear to the boards).

London: Charles Knight, 1833-1837

Each volume with a school book prize label inscribed to 'Edmondus Bastard, 1843'. Edmund Rodney Pollexfen Bastard attended Eton College between 1838-1843 and was the son of the Tory politician Edmund Pollexfen Bastard (1784-1838), and grandson of Admiral of the White George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney (1718-1792). Bookseller label of 'J. Rodwell, 46 New Bond Street' present in each volume. It is likely that they were also bound by James Rodwell as he was operating a bindery at the same time located in 6 Sherrad, Golden Sq. (Ramsden, London Book Binders 1780-1840, pp. 124). The odd light spotting and offsetting to tissue guards, otherwise a handsome set in very good condition indeed.

Each volume contains twenty-four bibliographies of notable individuals accompanied by an engraved portrait. Included are renowned philosophers, politicians, artists, aristocrats, poets and literary figures.

Stock no. ebc9351