Vols Constables Miscellany Original Selected (3 results)

Condition: Poor. First thus. Constable's Miscellany was a part publishing serial established by Archibald Constable Three numbers made up a volume; many of the works were divided into several volumes The price of a number was one shilling The full series title was Constable's Miscellany of Original and Selected Publications, in the Various Departments of Literature, Science, and the Arts These two volumes of the series covered British history The volumes are in poor condition, reading copies only, but the text blocks are still intact Both volumes have separated boards, but for Vol XXI the boards have been loosely reattached with cloth tape Both are ex-lib and have library bookplates on the front pastedowns, modest ink numbering on the ffeps and title pages, and borrower's label and card pockets on rear endpapers and rear pastedowns Despite their condition, they are fascinating as examples of early mass marketing of knowledge to the public 176, 322 pp.

[British History] FIRST EDITION. Complete in two volumes. Duodecimo in half-sheets (16 x 10cm), pp.[2] xxiv; 318 [4]; pp.[2] vi; 336 [2]. With 10 engraved plates, including a frontispiece and vignette title page to each volume. Later brown half morocco, with gilt titles and decoration to spines, and matching cloth over boards. Top edges gilt, others untrimmed. Extensive black ink provenance note to front pastedown of each volume: 'These 2 vols. belonged to the Lady Helen Stewart-Murray's Library, Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, 1917, & now belong to Mrs. Stewart-Browning, Claremont House, Claremont Rd, T. Wells.' Volume II shows a water-stain to the lower right corner of the text-block, most noticeably to the frontispiece and vignette title. Minor toning and spotting throughout, otherwise internally clean. Bindings show moderate general wear, including a series of ring marks to the lower board of volume II. Very good. Ex Libris Lady Helen Stewart-Murray (1867-1934), daughter of the 7th Duke of Atholl (1864-1917).

Hardcover. Condition: Fair. Matched set of all 3 volumes. Small octavo. Vol. 1: 216 p., hand-colored engravings 1-60; Vol. II: 208 p., hand-colored engravings 61-96 (#71 missing; 2 out of order but properly associated with text); Vol. III title differs ("The Book of Butterflies, Sphinges, and Moths; Illustrated by One Hundred and Forty-Four Engravings, colored after Nature. In Three Volumes"): 222 p., hand-colored engravings 1-48. Unnumbered text-figs. in all 3 vols. Provenance on front end papers (from library of Lillie E. Campbell Orbison, who went to India in 1886) and continuing to most recent owner. Overall condition Fair to Good. Covers and spines rubbed and worn, corners bumped, internally unmarked and tight. Back hinge of Vol. II with repairable separation. Insect damage on internal margin of endpapers of all 3 vols. Contemporary binding in half calf over mottled boards, marbled end papers.