(Binding) — [Ellis, George, editor] | An ornate mosaic binding

Property from the Library of John M. Schiff

(Binding) — [Ellis, George, editor]

Specimens of the Early English Poets. London: T. Rickaby for Edwards, 1790

8vo (180 x 115 mm). Title-page; mild browning, stray spots, stray mark in pencil. In full brown morocco, boards with ornate mosaic decoration of black and red morocco tiles with inlaid gilt floral decorations and interwoven gilt patterns, ruled in gilt, spine with gilt-decorated raised bands in six compartments, each compartment ruled in gilt and with brown morocco inlaid circles at corners, second compartment with red morocco label lettered in gilt, others with repeat red morocco mosaic motif decorated and in gilt, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers; lightly rubbed at extremities, repaired chip to foot of upper board. Housed in a custom leather pull-off case made by Rivière & Son.

A beautiful mosaic binding of this 1790 anthology of English verse. "For at least ten years at the end of the eighteenth century [James Edwards] was, in addition to being active as a bookseller, active also as a publisher" (Weber II p.41). Beyond publishing the volume, this is one of James' own published works. 

REFERENCE:

Weber I, p.139

PROVENANCE:

Mortimer L. Schiff