THE ART OF THE MINIATURE PAINTER (First edition in the dustwrapper - illustrated)

First edition - published in the Universal Art Series - edited by Frederick Marriott. With black and white illustrations throughout. Tissue-guarded and titled colour frontispiece by Hans Holbein The Younger showing the famous miniature portrait of Queen Anne of Cleves, who was to become the fourth wife of Henry VIII - based on her beauty that was represented by this miniature, he married her. This miniature portrait has not hitherto (before this book was published in 1927) ever been reproduced in colour. ***Near fine in blue cloth-covered boards with white titles and border decorations to the spine and front board. The boards are clean and unmarked, having been protected by the dustwrapper over the last 99 years. Head and tail of spine slightly creased. Boards edges very slightly rubbed with a light crease to the bottom edge of the front board. Top edge of text-block stained dark blue by the publisher to match the boards. Fore-edge and bottom edge of page block rough-cut (untrimmed). No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Internally also near fine with no inscriptions - just some soft pencil lines marking interesting passages of text - (could very easily be rubbed out). Off-setting to the front and rear endpapers. No inscriptions or markings in pen. No foxing. Printed on thick quality laid-paper. Interior pages clean. ***In a very good indeed light blue printed dustwrapper, decorated with dark blue borders to the front panel and spine, with the publisher's printed price of 21/- net on the spine (a very high price for 1926!). The dustwrapper is complete, with just slight loss at the top and tail of the spine. Corners of dustwrapper slightly rubbed with minuscule loss. Edges slightly rubbed, creased and nicked. Spine of dustwrapper browned. No serious creases or tears. ***(xx) plus 264 pages including appendix and index of names at the back of the book. 236mm x 156mm. ***A very detailed, profusely illustrated book on the art of the miniature painter - very uncommon to find in the original dustwrapper, especially so well-preserved. A beautiful book. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.