Extra-Illustrated. 1873, History of English Literature by H.A. Taine. Edinburgh

A handsome four-volume (complete) extra-illustrated 1873 History of English Literature, by Taine (and translated into English by Van Laun). This copy with wonderfully colored frontis plates, with delicate shading (likely hand-colored), and sixteen additional non-color plates of various personages. Perhaps the most striking engraving is a plate disparaging the Quaker James Naylor ("...blindly place the light of nature for the Light of Grace").

Bindings stamped by Bayntun of Bath on verso of flyleaf.

Physical Attributes -

Each volume measures approx. 20 x 14 x 3.5 cm. Crushed blue morocco spines and corners, with marbled boards ruled in gilt. Spine with five raised bands; title, author and volume in gilt in two compartments, year in gilt, and "Extra Illustrated" at base of spine. All edges gilt (AEG). Twenty plates added. Pages - v1 xvi, 433. v2 xii, 447. v3 xiv, 462. v4 xviii, 476

Condition -

See pictures. Sunning of spines. Some edge and corner wear. V1 front joint looks tender; slightest chip at top of joint. Sunning to spines. Gilt at top-edges bright still, not dusty. Endpapers with a little foxing. Turn-ins ghosted the flyleaves.

Bookseller notes on verso of flyleaf, "4 Vols AXLE 450.00 40 OS 20 Extra Plates 4 vols."

Toning to pages. Occasional light foxing, some on plate. V1 p334 plate seems to have toned the text block, and vice versa. Graphite "John Heywood" at bottom of plate at v1 380/381. Binder notes at last page of each volume. Small pencil index numbers on the plates. Sir Philip Sidney, at 74 in v.4, also seems to have toned itself and the facing pages (perhaps the tissue did it).