Beschreibung:

Title: The History of the Royal Residences of Windsor Castle, St. James's Palace, Carlton House, Kensington Palace, Hampton Court, Buckingham House, and Frogmore... Author: Pyne, William Henry Place: London Publisher: A. Dry Date: 1819 Description: 3 volumes. [5], 188, [1], 21; [5], 80, [1], 92, 16; [5], ii, 88, [1], 28, [1], 88 pp. 100 hand-colored aquatint plates. (Folio) 13¼x11, period full black straight-grain morocco, elaborately paneled in blind and gilt, spines lettered and decorated in gilt, raised bands, all edges gilt. First Edition. A magnificent set of histories, descriptions, and engraved aquatint renderings of the homes of British royalty, with detailed views of both interiors and exteriors. First recognized for his work as a painter, William Henry Pyne began a series of book collaborations in the early 1800s that led him increasingly into the role of author, particularly during a series of projects with the famous lithographer, Rudolph Ackermann "It is not perhaps surprising that, being himself designer, painter, engraver and author, [Pyne] should become enamoured of book production. His great effort in this direction was the large and costly work entitled The History of the Royal Residences...undoubtedly a very sumptuous book for which author, artist, engraver and publisher alike did their best" - Prideaux. Royal Residences is among the finest and most famous of English color plate books, distinguished for the thorough descriptions by Pyne, the splendid work of the artists, and the stunning color of the aquatint plates. Abbey, Scenery 396. Prideaux, pp.142-43. Tooley 389. Lot Amendments Condition: Some edge wear and scuffing to covers, bumping to spine ends; title pages and dedication pages for the second and third volumes have been transposed, and the binder consequently has identified the second volume as the third volume on the spine stamping, and vice versa, all sections, however, are present as issued; occasional light foxing; else very good. Item number: 185302