The book of common prayer: King James anno 1604 commonly called the Hampton Court Book.
184439585London: William Pickering pr. by Charles Whittingham 1844. Folio 35.1 cm 13.8". 260 pp. <br><br>Pickering's beautiful type facsimile of Robert Barker's 1604 edition a.k.a. the Hampton Court Book here in a Rivière binding. Charles Whittingham printed the work on handmade paper in black-letter type for Pickering who inspired by the printing of Aldus Manutius published in 1844 a series of six such facsimiles of important editions of the Book of Common Prayer each of which was => illustrated with wood-engraved initials and ornaments done by Mary Byfield and limited to => only 350 copies printed on paper with another two on vellum. The original title-pages were reproduced for each in => red and black and in the case of the present example the almanac pages likewise printed in red and black. Each book in this homage to important editions of the BCP was => an outstanding example of the Victorian-era Gothic design movement and Kelly notes that these volumes are "considered to be among the finest work of Whittingham."<br>Â Â Â Â Binding: Signed 19th-century dark brown morocco framed and panelled in single gilt and double blind fillets with gilt-tooled corner fleurons surrounding a central arabesque medallion; spine with raised bands gilt-stamped fleur-de-lis decorations in compartments and gilt-stamped publication information. All edges gilt. Front lower turn-in stamped by Rivière.<br>Â Â Â Â Provenance: Front free endpaper with small stamp of Basil M. Pickering who took over the business after his father's death; later in the library of American collector Albert A. Howard small booklabel "AHA" at rear. <br>Â Â Â Â <br>Â Â Â Â Brunet I 1108; Griffiths Bibliography of the Book of Common Prayer 1844:29; Kelly Checklist of Books Published by William Pickering 1844.4; Keynes William Pickering rev. ed. p. 85; McLean Victorian Book Design 13; Pickering & Chatto William Pickering catalogue 708 222. Bound as above joints and extremities showing moderate rubbing. Scattered spots of faint to mild foxing pages generally clean and fresh. William Pickering (pr. by Charles Whittingham) hardcover books
