BYRON, LORD [GEORGE GORDON]. An illuminated manuscript on vellum, being Byron's Ode to Napoleon, imperial 8vo, engrossed on 17 leaves of vellum, and illuminated with 6 miniatures by L. Fairfax Murray, with headings in gold, illuminated initials, and borders, bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in crushed red levant morocco jewelled binding, in a silk lined custom morocco box, fine condition.
Provenance: Phoebe A.D. Boyle, her sale, Anderson Galleries, 1923.

FANTASTIC EXAMPLE OF A SANGORSKI & SUTCLIFFE JEWELLED BINDING, in red levant morocco, with the arms of Napoleon inset in the front cover, embellished with gems, jewelled with 9 pearls and 3 rubies, and incorporating 9 sapphires, surrounded with a wreath of laurel enriched with 79 pearls. The borders feature interlaced strapwork in green on gilt, with a modelled bee device at the corners, highlighted by mother-of-pearl wings. The lower cover features a central jewelled device, incorporating the arms of Washington, with the last stanza of the poem inscribed along the margins, with jewelled points featuring 4 opals and 8 amethysts, and along the borders an elaborate gilt design with Napoleonic ciphers. The front doublure is composed of a repeating cipher in gilt on dark blue morocco, with a central Napoleonic cipher inset, jewelled with 4 garnets and 8 moonstones, all surrounded by a diaper design with emblematic tooling. The rear doublure features a similar overall design, but with the central inset design being the author's initial "B" beneath a coronet, surrounded by his favorite flower, violets, featuring 4 amethysts.

The 17-page manuscript is accomplished on vellum, the fine work of L. Fairfax Murray, a Birmingham artist from the Arts and Crafts movement, heavily influenced by Edward Burne-Jones. It features 6 miniatures, including the frontispiece, each illustrating an historic event including Napoleon at the Battle of Wagram, and Marengo, his retreat from Moscow, and his exile. The other leaves begin with finely illuminated initials, with verses headed in gold, with a final illuminated tail-piece, and manuscript colophon signed by Sangorski, Sutcliffe, and Muckley.

A magnificent modern illuminated vellum manuscript, housed in a brilliant, elaborate jewelled binding.