Beschreibung:

NICOLAS, Sir Nicholas Harris (1799-1848). History of the Orders of Knighthood of the British Empire; of the Order of the Guelphs of Hanover; and of the Medals, Clasps, and Crosses conferred for Naval and Military Services. London: W. Pickering and J. Rodwell, 1842. Fine, complete copy of the first attempt to write a general history of British honours; 'a great example of Victorian book production' (McLean). Nicolas served in the Royal Navy 1812-1816 before being called to the bar. His law work was mainly confined to peerage cases before the House of Lords, while he spent the rest of his time on genealogical and historical studies. In 1831 he was made a knight of the Royal Guelphic Order, and in 1832 chancellor and knight-commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, being advanced to the grade of the grand cross in 1840. In 1842, he published, in association with William Pickering and John Rodwell, the present work, the first history of British honours: 'it is doubtful whether the technical quality of these prints could be surpassed today ... [the plates] using gold leaf ... are truly magnificent' (Muir). George Baxter provided 21 of the illustrations for this work using his patented colour-printing process: 'Volume I contains a magnificent doublespread title-page in colours by Baxter, one of the finest title-page openings of the century' (Mclean). R. McLean, Victorian Book Design & Colour Printing (1963), pp.31-2; P.H. Muir, Victorian Illustrated Books (1989), p.152. 4 volumes, quarto (355 x 265mm). Titles printed in red and black, chromolithographic frontispiece and additional pictorial title forming a double-spread title-page by George Baxter finished by hand and heightened in gold, 25 chromolithographic plates all finished by hand and many heightened in gold (occasional unobstrusive light spotting, small marginal chip to Order of the Bath fly-title). Slightly later brown morocco gilt, covers with a large central panel of loose volutes terminating in various foliate devices, centred with small crown and initials 'M.S.', gilt spines, turn-ins and edges, yellow glazed endpapers (extremities lightly rubbed, spines fractionally faded). Provenance : Margaret Shaw Stewart (d.1880; second wife of 11th Duke of Somerset, binding and bookplates) – D. Bird Robinson (ownership inscription on flyleaf of vol. I dated 1903) – H.M. Queen Mary (1867-1953; inscriptions in all vols in Queen Mary's hand 'To Harry from Mama Mary Christmas 1942' to:) – H.R.H. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1900-1974; bookplates).