Imitations of Original Drawings by Hans Holbein in the Collection of His Majesty, for the Portraits of Illustrious Persons of the Court of Henry VIII. With Biographical Tracts
Bartolozzi. Chamberlaine
London. Printed by W. Bulmer and Co., Shakespeare Printing Office. 1792
Sold
An early issue of the plates with no watermark later than 1795 in contemporary green morocco.
Originally published in parts between 1792 and 1800, this series of portraits of figures at Henry VIII's court is complete with the 12 portraits of unknown personages not included in the original scope of the work (each portrait unknown, hence no accompanying biographical text). The volumes collate as per Abbey, with the exception that three plates on pink paper in Abbey's copy are here on white paper and two plates on white paper in Abbey's copy are here on pink paper; all of the plates described in Abbey's collation as 'unlettered proof; pink card' are in the present example on pink paper retaining deckle edges and mounted to larger sheets. This issue is described in the Abbey catalogue as 'Engraved on a thick deckle edges pink paper, with margins very much narrower than the text ... untouched copies in this state have been seen in part form carrying early watermarks.' None of the visible watermarks in this copy are later than 1795 and mark this as an early issue.
'This magnificent work is surely the finest example of English colour printing'. (Ray).
'In every way a splendid book, the colour printing reproducing with extraordinary fidelity the original designs.' (Abbey).
[Abbey, Life 205].
Originally published in parts between 1792 and 1800, this series of portraits of figures at Henry VIII's court is complete with the 12 portraits of unknown personages not included in the original scope of the work (each portrait unknown, hence no accompanying biographical text). The volumes collate as per Abbey, with the exception that three plates on pink paper in Abbey's copy are here on white paper and two plates on white paper in Abbey's copy are here on pink paper; all of the plates described in Abbey's collation as 'unlettered proof; pink card' are in the present example on pink paper retaining deckle edges and mounted to larger sheets. This issue is described in the Abbey catalogue as 'Engraved on a thick deckle edges pink paper, with margins very much narrower than the text ... untouched copies in this state have been seen in part form carrying early watermarks.' None of the visible watermarks in this copy are later than 1795 and mark this as an early issue.
'This magnificent work is surely the finest example of English colour printing'. (Ray).
'In every way a splendid book, the colour printing reproducing with extraordinary fidelity the original designs.' (Abbey).
[Abbey, Life 205].
2 vols. Folio. (555 x 430 mm). Stipple engraved portraits of Holbein and his wife printed in colour bound en face as frontispieces, printed title, leaf with dedication to the Queen, leaf with advertisement, leaf with Chamberlaine's preface recto and list of plates verso and 84 stipple-engraved plates on 83 sheets printed in colour by Bartolozzi after Holbein, each (with the exception of the portraits of Holbein and his wife and the 12 unknown portraits) with leaf of descriptive text, with the majority of the plates (54) printed on small sheets of pink laid paper and mounted to larger sheets, the two small plates of Henry and Charles Brandon coloured by hand as often. (Sheet size: 544 x 420 mm). Text and mounts with the watermark 'J WHATMAN 1794', plates watermarked variously 'J WHATMAN 1794', 'ITAYLOR' or 'DEPARD 1794', mounted plates on pink laid paper apparently without watermark, two plates on large sheets of pink laid paper watermarked '1795'. Contemporary green straight-grained morocco, boards with triple gilt rules, double-banded spines with titles gilt in seven compartments, turn-ins with gilt Greek key surround, board edges tooled in gilt, marbled endpapers, a.e.g.
#41842
