This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/18/2025
[NAUTICAL BOOKS]. WADSWORTH, Edward (1889-1949). Sailing Ships and Barges of the Western Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas. London: Frederick Etchells & Hugh Macdonald, 1926. Small folio. 81 pp. plus colophon. Publisher's quarter cream buckram with orange cloth covered boards with de-bossed bright gilt nautical device on front cover, bright gilt spine titling, publisher's slipcase with printed label. All edges uncut. Title- page, full-page map, 4 head and tail-pieces (two hand-coloured). 17 full-page engravings of ships and barges; printed recto only, and all but one coloured by hand. All by Edward Wadsworth. Copper plates destroyed after 450 copies printed (cloth spine a bit toned, light bumping to book edges, text a bit toned with minor occasional foxing, slipcase worm, soiled with some repairs). Near fine. FIRST LIMITED EDITION, #184/450. A very elegant and most impressive publication featuring a series of copper plates engraved in the line manner by Edward Wadsworth and coloured by hand. Introduction and brief descriptions by Bernard Windler. Number 187 of 450 copies set in Koch Kursiv type and printed at the Curwen Press (recto pages only) on Zanders hand-made paper. There is such a harmonious elegance between the typeface (Koch Kursiv) and the engravings that one must agree with Peter Tucker when he says "It was one of the most beautiful books to come from the Curwen Press in the 1920s, or indeed at any other time. " Wadsworth's only original book and completely successful. An especially fine copy clean unmarked very slight bumping at head and tail with wear and aging to the original publisher's slipcase. A lovely publication complete and its original state.