Fine Books & Manuscripts

OTTLEY, William Young (1771–1836). A Collection of One Hundred and Twenty–Nine Facsimiles of Scarce and Curious Prints by the Early Masters… London: for the proprietors…,1828. Large folio (365 x 264 mm). Engraved additional title, 129 engraved plates on India paper all laid down, included with an extra set of 13 of the nielli prints printed in silver; all with tissue guards (occasional pale foxing mainly at margins to plates, additional title foxed and with offsetting to opposite blank). Full contemporary dark green morocco ruled in gilt, flat raised bands, compartments framed and titled in gilt, all edges gilt, elaborate gilt dentelle turn ins, marbled endpapers (spine a little toned). A SCARCE LARGE PAPER COPY as Bigmore & Wyman writes that this “work may fairly be stated to be unpublished, as very few copies were ever distributed, and these chiefly as presents to the friends of Mr. Ottley…” Several of the plates present are such good facsimiles that the plate “Solomon’s Idolatry” by the Master “M. Z.” has been on numerous occasions accepted as authentic when separated from the volume. Bigmore & Wyman II, p. 98. From the private library of a prominent Chicago collector, part II.