Fine Books & Manuscripts

SMITH, Charles Hamilton (1776–1839). Selections of the Ancient Costume of Great Britain & Ireland… London: William Bulmer and Co. Shakespeare Press, for Colnaghi and Co., 1814. Folio. Hand–colored aquatint engraved half–title (some marginal toning, few paper repairs verso edge), engraved dedication to Prince Regent, 60 full–page hand–colored aquatint engravings each with a leaf of text; several of which were etched by I. A. Atkinson. Full early black straight grain morocco framed in gilt, flat raised bands gilt, compartments framed and titled in gilt, all edges gilt, dentelle turn ins, red endpapers (crown partially rebacked at lower joint, upper hinge tender). Provenance: Thomas George Hough (bookplate); Frances Mary Richardson Currer (bookplate opposite title). FIRST EDITION, “SUPERIOR” SECOND ISSUE (mixed) with plates 6, 30, and 49 redrawn (plate 34 is a first issue). These four plates were redrawn as the first edition was being prepared and are considered “superior both in drawing and engraving”. A SUBSCRIBER’S COPY with bookplate of Frances Currer (listed as “Miss Currer” on Subscriber’s leaf) who was considered the most famous female book collector of her time with a library estimated by Dibdin at over 20,000 books. Abbey, Life 431; Hardie, pp. 154–155; Tooley, pp. 246–248. From the private library of a prominent Chicago collector, part II.