The Old English Plate of the Emperor of Russia
London: Privately printed by W. H. Smith & Son at the Arden Press, 1909. First edition. Hardcover. Small Folio. lvi, 115 (1)pp., 50 plates. Original three-quarter leather with gilt ruling on covers, gilt lettering on spine. Gray endpapers. Title page printed in red and black. ""With a few exceptions all the early pieces, beginning with the Tudor cup of 1557–58 and ending with the splendid series of vessels of 1663, were gifts from the sovereigns of England to the court of Russia. The exceptions are the two flagons and rose -water dish sent by Christian IV of Denmark and three or four other pieces..." (Jones/Introduction). Collection of cups, bottles, flagons, plates, salvers, candlesticks, chandeliers, statuettes, punch bowls, wine cisterns, soup tureen etc. described in detail and reproduced in lithography on fifty plates, often with more than one item on one plate. Printed on heavy handmade paper. Chronological list of the Silver Plate and index at rear. Binding with some wear along edges and chips and scuffing at leather at spine. Rust remnants of paper clip at top of page 18. Binding in overall good+, interior in very good condition. g+ to vg. Item #43945
Price: $325.00