The Connoisseur: An Illustrated Magazine for Collectors. In twenty two volumes

London : Otto, 1901-1910. Leather. Very Good Indeed. 11" by 9". None. A smartly bound set of this interesting and richly illustrated fine art magazine, with an interesting provenance. Comprising: Volume I (September-December 1901) to Volume XXVIII (September-December 1910), lacking Volumes XVII-XXII. The verso of each front free-endpaper has a bookbinder's stamp for Zaehnsdorf. Featuring numerous plates - some coloured, some tipped in, some folding and some with captioned guards - and illustrations in the text. The original front paper wraps have been bound into the rear of Volumes XXIII-XXVIII, one with 'Pleasaunce' in pencil. With the armorial bookplates of Lord Battersea to the front pastedowns of Volumes I-XVI, and the pictorial bookplates of Constance Battersea to the front pastedowns of Volumes XXIII. Cyril Flower, 1st Baron Battersea (1843-1907) was a British Liberal politician and art patron. He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge. Like his father, he became involved in property development, including Park Town, Battersea. He married Constance de Rothschild, the daughter of Sir Anthony de Rothschild, in 1877. The Flowers were great collectors and patrons of art, and were involved with the Pre-Raphaelite set. They also commissioned the architect Edwin Lutyens to develop two Norfolk holiday villas into a fashionable residence, 'The Pleasaunce', where they entertained lavishly. In half crushed morocco bindings, with marbled boards. Externally, very good indeed with just some shelfwear. Internally, generally firmly bound, although one plate in Volume I, and p251-254 and one plate in Volume XXV, are detached but present. Bright and generally clean, with just the odd spot prominent to the first and last few pages and the reverse sides of some plates. A highly attractive set. Very Good Indeed