BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF CHARLES I
(CHARLES I) SKELTON, John. Charles I. London, Paris and Edinburgh: Goupil, 1898. Large quarto, mid-20th century three-quarter brown morocco, raised bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, uncut.
First trade edition, with chromolithographic frontispiece heightened by hand and 23 engraved plates with in-text illustrations.
As an essayist and historian, Skelton was “an extreme partisan, a chivalrous defender” of his subjects and his “quaint, eccentric style” is considered more readable than more authoritative works (Kunitz & Haycraft, 563). This volume, published posthumously, is a superb production, with numerous plates reproducing significant paintings and documents, including Charles’ marriage agreement and his death warrant. Small bindery ticket.
A handsome volume in fine condition.