3 books, one rare 1815 first edition, one 1905 Cosway-style (Sangorski and Sutcliffe) on Lady Emma Hamilton and a 2nd edition of the 1815

Three books are included in this sale:

1. A Cosway-style binding, executed by Sangorski and Sutcliffe (with their stamp on the rear doublure), binding a 1905 biography of Emma Lady Hamilton.

2. A rare, first edition, 1815 biography of Lady Hamilton, printed by Henry Colburn (with 2010 receipt of Lord Durham Rare Books for $1,700 USD).

3. The second edition, printed by Colburn in 1815 after the success of the first.

About the Cosway-style binding -

A beautiful Cosway-style portrait of Lady Hamilton decorates the front doublure, executed by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, with their binding stamp at the rear (this was a subtle way of claiming the binding, even though they executed it under contract to the bookseller Charles Sawyer of London). The same stamp can be seen on the rear doublure of the Hunting of the Snark the Harry Ransom center owns, and posted in their article, "Sangorski and Sutcliffe: The Rolls Royce of Bookbinding". Furthermore, the style matches; Shapero Rare Books writes, "Sangorski's almost invariably placed the miniature on the front doublure" in their article, Cosway Bindings - Search for a Star.

The Cosway-style miniature portrait is (strikingly) after a 1784 painting of Lady Hamilton, called The Spinstress.

A very similar example was sold by Christie's on the 19th of June 2012 (Lot 36, Fine Books and Manuscripts) for 875 GBP, but (in my opinion) this painting is of better execution.

About the first edition -

I had difficulty verifying any record of the first edition. Lord Durham Rare Books wrote, "scarce in any condition" and I second this. Even the Worldcat entry appears to be for a digital version, and all other listings are for the second edition, so I can't verify a copy in the world's libraries.

The second edition is much more common, and examples are available for sale on the market currently.

Physical Attributes -

Cosway-style book measures approx. 21 x 14 x 4.5 cm. It's rebacked and cornered. Leather binding. Boards with outer frames of gilt tooling, inner frames with florets surrounded by leaves in gilt, with the florets having blue morocco onlays. Central gilt medallion of leaves, with "E" monogram, and more onlay florets. Board edges with gilt fillets. Spine with five raised bands; four compartments with a central floret onlay and two with the title and author in gilt. All edges gilt. Inner boards with doublures of blue morocco and corner florets with onlays. Turn-ins and hinge with a roll of flowing pointille in gilt. Miniature of Lady Hamilton crowned by wreath with red onlay bow and circular frame of gilt and medal (inner). Flyleaves of silk. Rear board with no miniature, but the stamp of Sangorski and Sutcliffe at bottom of doublure. Hinges repaired. Book is well-illustrated.

1st edition and 2nd edition - both are in their publisher's boards and the text blocks have not been trimmed for binding (although they have been opened; meaning the folds in the gatherings have been cut to reveal the pages). These both have a frontis of Lady Hamilton.

Condition -

See pictures.

Cosway-style book - The Cosway-style binding has been repaired at the joints and hinges; it's not the most seamless repair I've ever seen, please do review the photos. The 1st blank endpaper has bookseller numbers written on it. The text block is toned throughout and there's a few light bumps to the edges. Just along the fore-edge of the block (doesn't seem to extend into the paper) there is a drop of liquid (tea?) mark.

The first and second edition both have well-rubbed and thumbed bindings with darkening to the page edges. They both have many bookseller marks inside the front board and ex-libris inscriptions. The first edition has a small "nl" on the title page, and some light thumbing. Both are opened, with deckled edges as well (not trimmed for binding yet). The second edition has an ink name removed from the top of the title page, and ghosting of it facing on the frontis. Rare of 2nd ed. has a family tree (graphite) and cracked hinge.