Westminster

London: Chatto & Windus, 1895. First edition. Hardcover. Near Fine. Octavo publication, 312 pages. Illustrated throughout by Francis W. Walker, with a particularly nice image of Westminster Abbey at the frontispiece. The lovely binding was executed by Fazakerly of Liverpool. The binding is full levant chocolate morocco with a series of concentric gilt rules along the edges. The spine has six raised band compartments, with five elaborately decorated and the other with title and author, Gilt decorated inner dentelles with binders stamp - "Fazakerly Liverpool" - present along the bottom edge. Previous owner book-plate to the front paste-down and the more recent book-plate of Randall Moskovitz laid in. Present in this volume is a very lovely fore-edge painting by Winifred Arthur depicting Westminster Abbey with the artist's monogram to the lower right corner. The image is under gilt and the remaining edges are also gold. The image was executed in 1898. We know this because of the extraordinary letter tipped in at the rear. A letter from Sherratt & Hughes Booksellers & Publishers, on their own letterhead, expressing in detail their order for this particular fore-edge painting. The letter is signed by Joseph David Hughes. The fore-edge painting is bright and very lovely indeed. Now housed in a maroon felt-lined clamshell box. The box is quite plain and shows some interior wear.

Price: $3,000.00


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