Description

Hardcover, three quarter brown morocco over marbled paper covered boards. Five spine bands with gilt floral decorations and title stamped in gold. Plate volume only, with word “PLATES” stamped on spine. A collection of all the illustrations from the Grolier Society’s publication of “Days of the Dandies”, which ran to 15 volumes. Edition de Luxe. This volume contains 73 monochrome plates and 15 color plates, all with tissue guards containing descriptive letter-press in red. representing the entire suite of plates printed by Grolier for the original set. “Days of the Dandies” was published in response to the success of the Grolier Society’s earlier multi-volume production entitled “Beaux & Belles of England” and included ten engaging biographies of 18th-century English personalities and authors. The illustrations range from literary luminaries such as Alexander Pope, Laurence Sterne and Oliver Goldsmith to leading thespians such as David Garrick and Dorothea Jordan (Mrs. Jordan). Other personalities, some still famous and others faded from memory include Madame de Stael; Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield; Beau Nash; Johnson and Boswell; Diderot and many others. No previous ownership marks. A clean, square, unmarked copy with only minor shelf wear. Interior plates are fine. Near fine.