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Orford, Horatio Walpole, Earl of / Park FSA, Thomas : A Catalogue of the Royal and Noble Authors of England, Scotland, and Ireland; with Lists of their works . enlarged and continued to the present time, by Thomas Park, F S A - Five Volumes

John Scott, Strand, London, 1806

Five volumes (complete). All volumes fully bound in leather. Gilt edging frames to the faces (in mild condition). The edges of the boards have delicate gilt decoration (in varying states of liveliness). The spines have gilt titling and decoration - all are worn by handling and are dignified and agreeable. Five ridges and six panels. The leather has been pleasingly polished by use. All volumes gleam benignly with gilt on the papertrims. Orford, whose most famous work was 'The Castle of Otranto', was the son of Robert Walpole (England's first prime minister) and was the 4th earl of the second creation of the title. He died childless and the title fell into abeyance. His cousin, who also inherited the Walpole barony, was later appointed 1st Earl of Orford (of the third creation). This is an agreeable set of books. It is a diligent and thorough catalogue of royalty of nobility and their works. All volumes are mild-mannered and polite. All have printer marks to the foot of the pages. The pages are hand pressed. Volume one (S. Gosnell printer) is sure: the boards are strong. There is shelving wear to the corners and to the spine seams. Nonetheless, the binding is easy and healthy. Inside, the contents are tight and benign. There is some foxing, age related marks and areas of tanning. But, the texts and illustrations are clear and eager. Royal authors of England from Richard I through to Frederick, Prince of Wales. Noble authors of England from Henry, 1st Duke of Lancaster. Volume II (S Gosnell - printer): Again shelving wear to the corners. There is some scuffing to the faces but they are restful and placid. The spine has wear to the seams and again the binding is compliant. Inside, the early and later pages have, at some stage, been invaded by damp. The frontispages are lightly wrinkled and there is some light staining to the top of the title and frontispiece pages. Inside, there are puddles of aging but otherwise the pages are clear, congengial. Once again the pages are hand-pressed. The contents are confined to the nobility of England stretching from Mary Fitzalan through to Edward Littleton. Volume III (S Gosnell - printer): the front face is damaged with a small wound. The covers nonetheless have a pleasing gentility and resilient indifference. There is shelving wear to the corners and to the spine seams. The pages are clear and firm, creamy and certain. They have some aging but are largely amiable. Once again this volume's contents are of the English nobility: from Lionel Cranfield (Middlesex) to John Lowther (Lonsdale). The frontispage has light storage wear. Volume IV (S Gosnell - printer (in this volume 'Holborn' is ommitted from the address)): The rear of this volume has been subjected to damp storage. The rear face has a storage indentation and discolouration (but still tan in shade). Inside the rear of the book has damp wrinkling and bubbling but no staining. The gilt trimming is bright and cheering. The pages are also bold and certain. The rest of the contents are benign and contented. The English nobility once again takes the volume: from Ford Grey (Tankerville) to William Petty (Lansdowne). The aspect of the book is a little wearied but it is still spirited and agreeable company. Volume V (S. Gosnell - printer): Handsome, healthy and hale. The boards have but shelving wear to the edges and the spine seams. The hinges are fit and easy. Inside, the contents are very clear and clean, generous and pleased. At last Scotland and Ireland are covered. But Walpole noted: "It is not my purpose to give an exact account of the Royal and Noble Authors of Scotland: I am not enough versed in them to do justice to writers of the most accomplished nation in Europe; the nation to which, if any one country is endowed with a superior sense of partition of sense, I should be inclined to give the preference in that particular." Altogether a generous set. fk. Book Condition: Good. Binding: Hardcover. Jacket: No Jacket

2nd Edition.

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