About this Item
277 x 187 mm. (11 x 7 1/4"). Two volumes. MAGNIFICENT OLIVE GREEN MOROCCO COSWAY BINDING BY RIVIERE & SON (stamp-signed on front turn-in), covers with wide inlaid strapwork frame of Pacific blue morocco filled with swirling gilt vines bearing four red and four white inlaid morocco blossoms, the intersections of the vines at head and food bound by two inlaid gray morocco dolphins, EACH COVER WITH HAND-PAINTED MINIATURE SCENE BY C. B. CURRIE (signed in gold on rear pastedown) inset at center, the scenes depicting Richmond Bridge, Snowdon, Hampton in Middlesex, and Ullswater, the paintings under glass and enclosed by a stippled gilt frame featuring eight swimming fish and 20 onlaid dots of tan morocco (one cover lacking one dot, perhaps never applied); raised bands, spine compartments with inlaid blue morocco frame, four containing a swirl of gilt vine and either a red or white inlaid morocco flower, two compartments with gilt lettering, turn-ins framed by gilt vines and frolicking gilt fish, a white morocco water lily inlaid at each corner, olive green watered silk endleaves, top edges gilt. Housed in chamois-lined tan morocco pull-off cases. WITH 61 ENGRAVINGS after Stothard and others, 15 of these full-page. A LARGE PAPER COPY. Verso of front free endpaper with ex-libris of David and Lulu Borowitz; front flyleaf of volume I inscribed in pencil: "To David From Harry / Dec. 1916." Coigney 44; Oliver 41; Bibliotheca Piscatoria, pp. 228-29; Keynes, "William Pickering," pp. 23, 82. Occasional mild foxing or faint offsetting from engravings, but an excellent copy internally--clean and fresh with vast margins, and IN A FLAWLESS BINDING. This is an especially desirable copy of one of the finest illustrated editions of the "Angler," splendidly bound by the masters of the so-called Cosway binding; because of its beauty, condition, and provenance, it is perhaps the finest example of this type of volume that we have ever offered for sale. The "Cosway" style of binding, with painted miniatures inlaid in handsome morocco, apparently originated with the London bookselling firm of Henry Sotheran about 1909, the year G. C. Williamson's book entitled "Richard Cosway" was remaindered by Sotheran and presumably given this special decorative treatment. The name "Cosway" then was used to describe any book so treated, whatever its subject. Cosway bindings come in numerous shapes and sizes, and vary a great deal in quality, but the very best ones--as here--combine the three names of Riviere, Stonehouse, and Currie. The finest miniatures on Cosway bindings were executed by Caroline Billin Currie (1849-1940), who is known to have created such paintings for Sotheran's from 1910 until her death, usually, as in the present case, from designs by J. H. Stonehouse for bindings executed by Riviere. In the early years of her career, Currie primarily did portraits, usually of the author of the work or a leading character in the novel, but as she reached the height of her powers, she began to do scenes, sometimes emulating the style of other artists. The tranquil landscapes here are reminiscent of the style of Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro in the use of light, color and pointillist effects. The front cover of volume I features the liveliest scene, showing a woman and child strolling on a road, and a horseman, two travellers, and a charming dog on a riverside path, in addition to the fishermen in skiffs on the river. The front cover of volume II shows a pleasure-boating party boarding in the early morning light, a stately home in the background, and two fishing boats already on the lake. The rear covers of both volumes are serene views of a lake or river in hilly countryside, with a sole angler accompanied by female companions. Walton (1593-1683) lived in turbulent times, and he suffered personal tragedy (enduring the deaths of both his wives and eight of his nine children), but, largely because of the present work, he is forever identified with quietude.
Seller Inventory # ST20189
Contact seller
Report this item
