DAVIES, Hugh Wm. [Charles Fairfax Murray]

Catalogue of a Collection of Early French Books in the Library Of C. Fairfax Murray; [with:] Catalogue of a Collection of Early German Books in the Library Of C. Fairfax Murray [Four Volumes]

London: Holland Press, 1961 / 1962. First Edition thus. Hardcover. Deluxe reprints of this "bibliographical monument of lasting importance," complete in four volumes. (Ricci) Thick royal 8vo (277 x 207mm): [14],599,[4],601-1,096,lxix,[1]; [4],xviii,[4],462,[2],465-818,[1],lxiipp, lavishly illustrated with full-page plates and numerous text woodcuts. French Books: Publisher's green cloth-covered boards (first binding), spines stamped in gold; cream pictorial dust jackets (price-clipped) printed in black. Parts I and II continously paginated in two volumes. A superb set, virtually pristine (probably unread). German Books: Publisher's quarter white vegetable parchment over red cloth-covered boards, spines stamped in gold, top edges stained red; slate blue pictorial dust jackets printed in black and priced 48 gns. Volumes I and II continously paginated. From the private reference library of antiquarian bookseller Dorothy Sloan, with commemorative book plate loosely inserted. Board edges lightly rubbed, else a Fine set, tightly bound and clean throughout. Brenni (Book Illustration) 771 and 856. Besterman 3386 and 3399 (for the 1910 privately printed editions). Breslauer & Folter 147 ("Owing to the extremely detailed bibliographical descriptions and critical notes by Davies, . . . the catalogues of the Fairfax Murray Collection of French and German fifteenth- and sixteenth-century books may be considered selective bibliographies of their subject and belong indeed to the best reference works on it."). Ricci, p. 178-79 ("His collections of early German, French, and espcially Italian books were among the largest and choicest in private hands."). Fine / Fine. Item #BB2744

First privately printed in very limited editions, in 1910 (French) and 1913 (German). With detailed bibliographical descriptions of 707 French books printed between 1475 to 1692 and of 495 German books (including books published in countries with a non-Latin European base, principally Belgium, Switzerland, and Austria-Hungary). Charles Fairfax Murray (1849-1919) was a British artist and art connoisseur connected with the second wave of the Pre-Raphaelite movement. "His own collections included Italian and English art, especially Pre-Raphaelite art, rare and illuminated books, incunabula of different origins, and a complete series of the Kelmscott editions, forming one of the finest European book collections." (ODNB) N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, with dust jackets carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).

Price: $499.00