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194 x 125 mm. (7 5/8 x 4 7/8"). 304 pp.Adapted for English readers by L. L. Weedon. EXTREMELY ATTRACTIVE CONTEMPORARY RED MOROCCO BY RIVIERE & SON (stamp-signed in gilt on front turn-in), covers with gilt-ruled border and panel, the panel corners each with two tulips stems on ground stippled in gilt, raised bands, one compartment with gilt titling, the others densely gilt with three tulip stems on ground stippled with gilt and within a curving gilt-ruled border, gilt ruled turn-ins with gilt tulips and stippling at each corner, red watered silk pastedowns and endleaves, all edges gilt. With frontispiece, seven plates, several in text-illustrations, and head- and tailpieces by T. H. Robinson. AN ALMOST PERFECT COPY, the binding especially lustrous, and virtually pristine internally. This is a beautifully bound English translation of a popular German historical romance set in 16th century Württemberg. Inspired by the novels of Sir Walter Scott, poet and novelist Wilhelm Hauff (1802-27) set his tale in Swabia during the reign of Duke Ulrich (1487 1550), a volatile nobleman dubbed "the Swabian Henry VIII" for his scandalous exploits. The novel appeared in German in 1826, just a year before the author's untimely death from typhoid, and was a huge success. Duke Ulrich's descendant, Duke Wilhelm of Ulrach, was so taken with the story that he restored the eponymous Lichtenstein Castle. With prominent gilt blossoms against a stippled ground, our especially pretty Riviere binding is done in the style of the Doves workshop, which was flourishing under the direction of Thomas J. Cobden-Sanderson at the time of publication. The long-lived Riviere firm began with Robert, who set up as a bookseller and binder in Bath in 1829, then established a bindery in London in 1840; in 1881, he took his grandson Percival Calkin into partnership, at which time the firm became known as Riviere & Son; the bindery continued to do business until 1939, when it merged with Baytun of Bath. Rivere's work has consistently been of the highest standard throughout its long years of operation. The binding here is little changed since the day it left the workshop, and the glossy, brilliant white leaves of the text look like new.
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