“THE MOST REMARKABLE PORTRAITS OF ELIZABETH AND HER CONTEMPORARIES”: CREIGHTON’S QUEEN ELIZABETH, WITH CHROMOLITHOGRAPHIC FRONTISPIECE AND 39 ILLUSTRATIONS, MOST FULL-PAGE ENGRAVED PORTRAITS

(ELIZABETH I) CREIGHTON, Mandell. Queen Elizabeth. London, Paris and Edinburgh: Boussaud, Valadon, 1896. Folio (10 by 13 inches), contemporary full burgundy straight-grain morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt; original printed paper wrappers bound in. $3800.

Early edition, with color frontispiece portrait and 39 illustrations, including 23 steel-engraved plates (one tinted, with many portraits), beautifully bound by Roger de Coverly in full morocco-gilt.

Renowned bishop and historian Creighton is especially remembered for this "admirable study of personal character in the life of Elizabeth" (DNB). The volume is illustrated with engraved portraits of Elizabeth, Ann Boleyn, Henry VIII, Mary Stuart, Sir Philip Sidney, Raleigh and many others. As Creighton states in his preface, "The chief merit of this volume… lies in the attempt to bring together the most remarkable portraits of Elizabeth and her contemporaries… Seldom did personal characteristics play a greater part than in the Elizabethan age." The binder of this volume, Roger de Coverly (1831-1914), served his apprenticeship under Zaehnsdorf, then worked for J. & J. Leighton before setting up his own workshop in the 1860s. He took commissions from William Morris and Thomas James Cobden-Sanderson, and the latter went on to serve a year's apprenticeship with de Coverly in 1883-84. De Coverly's aim was always "to work excellently rather than cheaply." First published in a deluxe limited edition of 200 copies, with plates in double suite.

Just a touch of faint rubbing at spine ends. A splendid illustrated volume, beautifully bound, in fine condition.