PYNE (W.H.). THE COSTUME OF GREAT BRITAIN. - Lot 86

PYNE (W.H.). THE COSTUME OF GREAT BRITAIN. London, William Miller, 1808. In-folio, long-grained old red morocco, wide gilt lace on covers, spine ribbed with hot and cold decoration, gilt edges (antique binding). Superb album illustrated with a title with vignette showing soldiers playing checkers, 60 leaves of text and 60 plates engraved with aquatint and carefully colored on colored backgrounds. Seventh and final volume in an important series of books on costume published by W. Miller between 1801 and 1808. This work, engraved and written by Pyne, is by far the best of the series. The streets of London with all their characters are meticulously depicted, along with the small trades one might encounter: poster-posters, potters, acrobats, charcoal-burners, water-carriers, grinders, members of parliament, milk-carriers, lamplighters, bakers, rabbit-merchants, brewers... (Colas 2448). The plates are adorned with a griffin's head surmounted by a crown. Label with the figure of Napoleon III, an N surmounted by the imperial crown glued to the first counterplate. Joints rubbed.