AUTOBIOGRAPHICA, WITH A GOSSIP ON THE ART OF PRINTING IN COLOURS. This item is unavailable.AUTOBIOGRAPHICA, WITH A GOSSIP ON THE ART OF PRINTING IN COLOURS

large folio. later cloth, top edge gilt. (ii), 32, (2) pages, 5 plates. First edition, one of a few copies printed by Vaughan's son in memory of his father (St Bride Catalogue p.921). Covers bowed. Light foxing, else a near fine copy. W.E. Vaughan 1825 - ca. 1900) was a Brighton print dealer, the largest dealer south of London in the last half of the 19th century. His reminiscences deal with his business and the aesthetic aspects of hand-coloured prints. The five prints are excellent chromolithographs of famous 18th century prints. Levis, page 185-186, states that "this volume is quite rare. I have never seen but one copy." On page 32 is listed an obituary notice that appeared in The Times:- A correspondent writes :- "Collectors of coloured prints will hear with regret of the death of Mr. W.E. Vaughan, the well-known print dealer of Brighton, which occurred last week. There are few connoisseurs who have not added to their stores from his large and curious stock, and his pleasant room has been visited by most of the notables of the reign. Descended from a good old Welsh family, Mr. Vaughan had yet to fight his way up from a humble station. A gilder by trade, he early followed the bent of his taste for Bartolozzi's work, and every penny he could spare was spent on the master of stipple. At that time Vaughan had few competitors, and it was not until late years that he startled the sale-rooms by giving what was then the unheard-of price of £70 for a coloured engraving of 'Miss Farren.' He lived to have bid more than double that sum for similar prints. Mr Vaughan's judgement was so good than in any disputed point his opinion was frequently accepted as conclusive by the presiding powers at the London sale-rooms, and and as his character was as high as his eye was correct, purchasers of his stock always got good value for their money. Quick in sympathy, of gracious manner, and with a mind stored with an extroardinary variety of knowledge, Mr. Vaughan will be long remembered and regretted by all lovers of the subject to which he devoted his uncommon taste and high integrity.".…