“MUCH VALUABLE MATERIAL… NOT TO BE FOUND ELSEWHERE”: STRICKLAND’S ILLUSTRATED QUEENS OF ENGLAND, BEAUTIFULLY BOUND

STRICKLAND, Agnes. Lives of the Queens of England. London: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, & Green, 1864. Eight volumes. Octavo, contemporary three-quarter blue morocco, raised bands, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, marbled endpapers and edges. $2200.

Lovely later edition set of Strickland’s impressive and engaging account of England’s queens, illustrated with 37 engraved portraits and eight engraved title page vignettes, beautifully bound.

"Miss Strickland's fame as an author and historian rests on the Lives of the Queens of England, which was the joint work of herself and her sister Elizabeth… In her extracts from contemporary authorities she amassed much valuable material, and her works contain pictures of the court, of society and of domestic life not to be found elsewhere" (DNB). "Among historical compilations it must long remain as one of the most worthy" (New York Times, October 24, 1892). In addition to engraved portraits, this edition includes numerous facsimile documents and autographs of kings and queens. First published 1840-48. Allibone, 2285.

Scattered foxing to plates and text, contemporary binding quite lovely.