Smith, (Captain William Henry)

Descriptive Catalogue of a Cabinet of Roman Imperial Large-Brass Medals

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Bedford John Webb, Printer 1834 First Edition Woodcut of two sides of a medal on the title-page. 4to. [280 x 217 x 31 mm] xxii, [ii], 352 pp. Contemporary binding by Hering (signed with an inked pallet on the front endleaf) of grained green goatskin, the covers tooled in gilt with a double fillet border enclosing an elaborate strapwork design incorporating various foliate branches, a four petalled flower and dots and at the centre the circular arms block of Sir George Musgrave. The spine divided into six gilt panels by thick bands, lettered in the second panel, the others tooled with foliate branches a quadrolobe and dots, the edges of the boards tooled with triple gilt fillets, wide turn-ins and matching inside joints, gilt tooled with fillets and a repeated flower, semi-circles and dots, red silk doublures and endleaves tooled with a gilt fillet and blind roll border, gilt and elaborately gauffered edges. (Once rubbed and expertly refurbished). Martin, "Bibliographical Catalogue of Privately Printed Books", p.448. Smith, who went on to become a rear-admiral, formed an impressive collection of Roman Imperial Large-Brass Medals which are described in great detail. 200 copies of this catalogue were printed, and this copy includes a tipped-in letter from Smith to Sir George Musgrave, which begins "I beg to send you the first copy of my Catalogue, which I was afraid Old Caxton would have delayed another year, and which has only been accelerated by my going to Town". Musgrave is mentioned, amongst other valued friends, on p.xxi of the Introduction. He succeeded to a baronetcy in May 1834, and lived at Eden-Hall in Cumberland. He has added a pencil note on p.121. The volume was finely bound by Hering to a pseudo-fanfare design, with handsome doublures and elaborately gauffered edges. It is a first class piece of work.

• GBP 2,500.00 > other currencies
• ordernr.: ebc1629

• bookseller: George Bayntun (GREAT BRITAIN)