Large Annotations (2 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Good. A perfectly serviceable set of two reference copies, the 1801 edition of the work published first in the 17th century; nothing too terribly fancy, but complete and sturdy, still attractive, and sits nicely on the shelf. Large annotations and a Preface, by Zachary Grey, LL.D. Fine steel engraving of a portrait of the author Samuel Butler after an etching by Ridley. Lovely steel-engraved vignette at title page of first volume. Printed by T. Bensley, noted printer in London, for several local booksellers. Complete in two volumes, bound in octavo format, measuring 8 1/2" tall x 5 3/4" wide. Rebound in what appears to be tree-calf leather, consisting of a smooth, light-colored calfskin treated with chemicals in such a manner as to represent a tree trunk with assembling to branches, to both front and rear covers. Rubbed joints, edges, scuffed tips, bruised tip to bottom of the second volume, producing crimping to first range of bottom page tips. Gilt dentelles along all four edges of front and rear covers to both volumes. Darker backstrip indicating original publisher's binding, affixed to spines, with gilt lettering and fleurs-de-lis to both, spine heads and feet scuffed a bit. Thus a possible rebind in the past. Prior owner's ink inscription to upper edge of first free page of Volume I. Sumptuous marbled endpapers front and rear. Both volumes feature bookplates of Gordon J. Van de Water and a William Charles Kerr, affixed neatly. Moderate foxing to and light-to-moderate waffling of text-block, else a quite attractive set. A dozen full-page aquatint plates, after J.H. Clark, Hogarth and others. This is a suitably bound, nicely illustrated exemplar of Butler's epic, Hudibras, "a vigorous satirical poem, written in a mock-heroic style by Samuel Butler (1613?1680), and published in three parts in 1663, 1664 and 1678. The action is set in the last years of the Interregnum, around 1658?60, immediately before the restoration of Charles II as king in May 1660" (Wikipedia). We meet the knight Good Sir Hudibras and encounter commentary on religious divisiveness. The full-page plates are quite fine, one being heavily toned, leading to some shadowing opposition. Seven plates to Volume II, one being a fold-out into three panels, quite fine; five to Volume II. Lovely steel-engraved illustrations as chapter heads and feet. Volume I, frontis, title page, lii [4], 2-435 pp.; Volume II: frontis matter, 2-446 pp., plus 19 pp. index, 3 pp. of works by the publisher.Member, I.O.B.A., C.B.A., and adherent to the highest ethical standards. Additional postage may be required for oversize or especially heavy volumes, and for sets.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. COMPLETE SET IN TWO VOLUMES. HARDBACKS BOUND IN 18th CENTURY HALF LEATHER BOARDS WITH LATER LEATHER SPINES ADDED, COMPLETE WITH FRONTIS ENGRAVING PLUS 16 FULL PAGE ENGRAVING AFTER HOGARTH WITH 5 FOLDING. EACH BOOK MEASURES APPROX 8 X 6 INCHES. SOME AGE RELATED RUBBING, BUMPS & SCUFFS MOSTLY TO LEATHER BOARDS, CORNERS BUMPED WITH SOME LOSS TO LEATHER, PRIVATE BOOKPLATE TO FRONT ENDPAPERS, OCCASIONAL MINOR MARKS, LIGHT FOXING OR MINOR BROWNING TO PAGES & ENDPAPERS. OVERALL THE BOOKS ARE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION WITH ALL HINGES STRONG, MAJORITY OF PAGES CLEAN & GOOD STRONG IMPRESSIONS TO ENGRAVINGS. EXTRA POSTAGE MAY APPLY FOR OVERSEAS ORDERS. ALL BOOKS ARE POSTED IN A STURDY BOOK BOX.