The Pleasures of Memory...with some other Poems.

EDWARDS OF HALIFAX WITH A FORE-EDGE PAINTING

Fifth Edition. 12mo (160 x 95m). 

 

Bound by Edwards of Halifax in contemporary vellum, covers with an outer gilt metope and pentaglyph roll on a blue wash background surrounding a gilt Greek-key roll. Smooth spine tooled with gilt honey-comb pattern and lettered on a blue wash background, gilt edges, fine contemporary fore-edge painting of a large country house, a river in the fore-ground with a woman on a farm horse crossing a bridge, original green morocco slip case (spine slightly rubbed but otherwise fine).

 

London: for T. Cadell and C. Dilly,

A fine presentation copy from the author inscribed on the half-title: "Miss F. Harrison from her obliged & affect. Friend the Author". In a well-preserved characteristic binding by Edwards of Halifax with a fore-edge painting.

 

James Edwards of Halifax (1757-1816) perfected the art of rendering vellum transparent (patented in 1785) so that an image could be painted on its underside, and thus be sealed and protected when used in bookbinding.

 

See Maggs catalogue 1481 Provincial Bookbinding in Great Britain (no.40). 

 

Provenance: V. B Johnson of Emmanuel College Cambridge, signature on the front flyleaf.

 

 

Stock Code: 246444