Bonhams 1793 : WISE (THOMAS JAMES) The Ashley Library. A Catalogue of Printed Books, Manuscripts and Autograph Letters, 2 vol., FIRST EDITION, 1905-1908

The Ashley Library. A Catalogue of Printed Books, Manuscripts and Autograph Letters, 2 vol., FIRST EDITION, printed throughout on Whatman paper, portrait of Wise, view of the Library and numerous bibliographical plates, brown half morocco gilt by Zaehnsdorf, with their pallet on front free endpapers, t.e.g., with minor wear but a handsome set [Todd 419b], royal 4to, Printed for Private Circulation [by Richard Clay], 1905-1908

Sold for £3,250 inc. premium

Footnotes

Very rare; according to de Ricci, English Collectors, p.187, only 12 trial copies were printed, though there were in addition various proofs and incomplete copies. Harvard and Brown University have parts of a 1901 issue, which has practically no plates and is supposed to be limited to 20 copies. The only copies of the present edition to be found on Copac and WorldCat are at the British and Bodleian Libraries. There has been no copy at auction since the Pariser/Carter part copies in 1967, lots 13 to 15, now at Texas; it is notable that these also were almost without plates.

Collation: pp. i-(xx), 1-362 plus colophon leaf, 108 plates; pp. i-(xiv), 1-166 plus colophon leaf, 74 plates.

Category: Books / Books, Maps and Manuscripts

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