A Record of the Black Prince : Being a Selection of such Passages in his Life as have been Most Quaintly and Strikingly Narrated by Chroniclers of the Period, Embellished with Highly Wrought Miniatures and Borderings Selected from Various Illuminated MSS, referring to Events in English History

First (only?) edition. Original Gothic Revival Monastic-style boards, with black moulded and pierced papier mache boards with crimson paper showing through the strap-work, leather spine with embossed lettering. Marbled endpapers. All edges gilt. Binding designed by Henry Noel Humphreys, based on the tomb of the Black Prince in Canterbury Cathedral. The Black Prince was one of the most successful gift books of the period, with the binding the most elaborate to be produced up to that date. Over 100 of text 'set in the plump black-letter of Figgins and printed letterpress by Vizetelly Brothers; many pages are embellished with initials and decorative wood-engravings printed in black and red, and there are six splendid chromolithographed illustrations marvellously enhanced by the surrounding black type' [Mclean, Victorian Book Design, p. 104]. Complete, front board detached, chipped along upper edge and on lower corner; a few loose pages but clean, bright and tidy internally, rear board heavily chipped at corners, spine leather slightly frayed at ends. Suitable for restoration. Papier Mache is an inherently fragile form of binding & this is a rare survival. Reasonable offers welcome. Large 12mo.