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ELEGANT EPISTLES: BEING A COPIOUS SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIVE, MORAL, AND ENTERTAINING LETTERS, FROM THE MOST EMINENT EPISTOLARY WRITERS. [and] ELEGANT EXTRACTS FROM THE MOST EMINENT BRITISH POETS by (FORE-EDGE PAINTINGS) - [ca. 1820]

by (FORE-EDGE PAINTINGS)

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ELEGANT EPISTLES: BEING A COPIOUS SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIVE, MORAL, AND ENTERTAINING LETTERS, FROM THE MOST EMINENT EPISTOLARY WRITERS. [and] ELEGANT EXTRACTS FROM THE MOST EMINENT BRITISH POETS by (FORE-EDGE PAINTINGS) - [ca. 1820]

ELEGANT EPISTLES: BEING A COPIOUS SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIVE, MORAL, AND ENTERTAINING LETTERS, FROM THE MOST EMINENT EPISTOLARY WRITERS. [and] ELEGANT EXTRACTS FROM THE MOST EMINENT BRITISH POETS

by (FORE-EDGE PAINTINGS)

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London: Printed for John Sharpe and Hector Mc'Lean, [ca. 1820]. 133 x 83 mm. (5 1/4 x 3 1/4").
Pleasing 19th century red straight-grain morocco, covers with blind-ruled frame and gilt cresting roll accented with palmettes, raised bands, spines panels densely gilt in a repeating pattern of curls and volutes, gilt turn-ins, all edges gilt. EACH VOLUME WITH AN ATTRACTIVE FORE-EDGE PAINTING OF A LANDSCAPE. Each volume with engraved title page vignette. Title pages with the 19th century signature of M. B. Battew(?). Joints and extremities somewhat rubbed (one volume starting at the head) but the bindings entirely secure, spines a little darkened, some volumes chipped with a little loss at head, occasional mild foxing or offsetting, but excellent examples overall, with pleasing and well-preserved fore-edge paintings.

Offered individually, these volumes contain edifying excerpts that might be studied both for their improving content and for their examples of form to be used in one's own compositions. The fore-edge paintings mostly depict the home of a great British writer, from Cowper's cottage at Olney, to the bustling Lichfield street where Dr. Johnson was born, to Walpole's neo-Gothic folly Strawberry Hill, to Pope's elegant villa in Twickenham. One scene features classical ruins that must be in Greece or Italy, and another features a river scene with a Medieval stone bridge that is perhaps more Continental than English. All the paintings are enlivened by figures in the foreground, whether it is Cowper tending his roses or the carters and tradesmen in the Lichfield road, with the pastoral scenes dominated by soft blues and greens. While the size of the book necessarily means that the artist in each case had a relatively small canvas to work with, and while these paintings attain a level of aesthetic achievement below the best examples we have handled, they all are nevertheless pleasing compositions, and each represents a kind of starter-home fore-edge painting offered at a very advantageous price. For other volumes at various price points, please check our website..

We have 9 copies available starting at $30.00.

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Elegant Epistles: Being a Copious Collection of Familiar and Amusing Letters Etc....

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  • very good
  • Hardcover
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Used - Very Good
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New Edition Revised and Enlarged
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Hardcover
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1
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Atlanta, Georgia, United States
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London: T. Longman, 1794. New Edition Revised and Enlarged. Hardcover. Very Good. Octavo. 874pp A very good solid copy rebound in 20th century in green cloth., spine dulled. Foxed
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Elegant Epistles: Being A Copious Selection Of Instructive, Moral, And Entertaining Letters From the Most Eminent Epistolary Writers Volume III: Pope and His Friends

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Rochester, New York, United States
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$29.81

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London: John Sharpe Book. Very Good. Full Leather. Circa 1820's. Gilt ruling front & rear, four raised spine bands, gilt decoration & titles on spine, all edges gilt. Front hinge starting, binding strong & tight. Edges rubbed, small abrasion at front upper right. Very limited foxing, otherwise interior unmarked. Size: 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall.
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Elegant Epistles: Being a Copious Selection of Instructive, Moral, and Entertaining Letters, from the Most Eminent Epistolary Writers. Volume II. Book III, IV: Modern of Early Date

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Frederick, Maryland, United States
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Printed for John Sharpe ... and Hector Mc'Lean. Used - Very Good. Very Good condition. Volume 2, Book 3-4. Owner's name on flyleaf. (letters, collections)
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$47.64
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Elegant Epistles: Being A Copious Collection of Familiar and Amusing Letters, Selected for the Improvement of Young Persons, and for General Entertainment

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  • Hardcover
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Used
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Hardcover
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Skipton, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
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$44.70

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F. C. and J. Rivington et al. Half bound in leather with marbled paper to boards. New edition, improved and enlarged. 1044pp. Raised bands to spine with black label and gilt titles. Ex libris label and signature of book binder Herbert E. R. Dorant. Tiny area of loss to edges of black label. Edges worn. Surface worn. Some exposed board. Binding is sound. Good+, sound copy . Hardback. 1814.
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$44.70
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Elegant Epistles: Being A Copious Collection of Familiar and Amusing Letters, Slected for the Improvement of Young Persons, and for General Entertainment, from Cicero, Pliny ... A New edition Improved and Enlarged.

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WINTERTON, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
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GB: F. C. And J. Rivington and Others, 1814. Old full leather. Spine has raided bands and is lettered and ruled in gold. Covers tending loose. Book is in very good minus condition with minor but noticeable signs of wear and/or age. SPECIAL Clean tight text. POSTAGE RATES MAY APPLY Packed weight 1900g. . Hardback. VG-/No Dw.
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Elegant Epistles: Being a Copious Selection of Instructive, Moral, and Entertaining Letters from the Most Eminent Epistolary Writers: Six Volumes

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Atlanta, Georgia, United States
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$150.00

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London: John Sharpe, no date circa 1840s. 3/4 morocco. Very good. 12mo a lovely set bound in 3/4 green morocco with red leather labels, engraved title pages.
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$150.00
Elegant epistles: Or, a copious collection of familiar and amusing letters, Selected for the...
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Elegant epistles: Or, a copious collection of familiar and amusing letters, Selected for the improvement of young persons and for general entertainment, [ . . . ]

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  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire, United Kingdom
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London: Printed for Charles Dilly, 1790 Book. Good. Full leather. [iii]-xii, [xii], 798 pages + pages numbered *752 and *753 which are in the sequence. 2 pages of publisher's adverts at the rear. Here without the half title page mentioned in ESTC N7305 - the copy described there is a large paper copy - this is not. Occasional spotting and light browning. Heavier browning at start and finish. In old full leather, this is scuffed and worn. Wear to the head and foot of the spine. Browning to end papers form the leather in the binding. A heavy volume, 1.3 kilos before packing..
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$172.41
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Elegant Epistles: Being a Copious Collection of Familiar and Amusing Letters Selected for the Improvement of Young Persons and for General Entertainment

by anon

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  • very good
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Very Good
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fair
Edition
First printing
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Wellington, New Zealand
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$200.00

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london: C. Dilly,, 1793. First printing. leather_bound. Very Good/fair. Leatherbound. Some tape marks to top and bottom of spine. 433-873, [1] p. 24 cm. Engraved introductory page with numerous portraits. Full leather. Corners and spine ends worn,
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$200.00
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Elegant Epistles: Being a Copious Selection of Instructive, Moral, and Entertaining Letters, from the most Eminent Epistolary Writers.

by [FORE-EDGE PAINTINGS]

  • Used
Condition
Used - A few tiny areas of rubbing at joints; all volumes tight and sound; a very attractive set.
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1
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Rochester, New York, United States
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$1,250.00

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London:: Printed for John Sharpe,, undated; ca. 1790-1820.. old straight-grain red morocco gilt- and blind-stamped; gilt spines; each volume with an old fore-edge painting.. A few tiny areas of rubbing at joints; all volumes tight and sound; a very attractive set.. 12mo,. The fore-edge paintings are as follows: Vol. I: View of London; Vol. II: Regent Street from Piccadilly Circus; Vol. III: Charing Cross; Vol. IV: Theatre Royal, Drury Lane; Vol. V: The Royal College of Surgeons; and Vol. VI: Covent Garden Market.
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$1,250.00