THE HISTORICAL AND THE POSTHUMOUS MEMOIRS OF SIR NATHANIEL WILLIAM WRAXALL 1772-1784 5 Volumes ** Extra Illustrated ** Fine Binding by Wraxall, Nathaniel William & Henry B. Wheatley, editor - 1884

London: Bickers & Son. Very Good+. 1884. Extra Illustrated Edition. Hardcover. Beautiful early Bayntun of Bath Fine Binding (the bindery was established the same year this set was published). Handsome honey brown crushed morocco with 5 raised bands; compartments & covers decorated in gilt and black. All edges gilt, dentelles & inside covers have gilt frames over marbled endpapers. Two gold bookmark ribbons bound into each volume. Extra illustrated edition with 244 beautifully engraved, tissue guarded & collated plates: 184 full-page portraits (44 in color) ; 41 full-page views (8 in color) ; 4 double-page views and 7 fold-out views (1 in color). Vol #1: [xxxii, 2, 424pp] // Vol #2: [4, 448pp] // Vol #3: [4, 459pp] // Vol #4: [4, 464pp] // Vol #5: [4, 461pp (Appendix & Index pp397-461) ]. Condition note: Interior is pristine except for tiny, unobtrusive id numbers penciled on each plate & the gold ribbons frayed at ends. Leather covers have very minimal rubbing. Sir Nathaniel William Wraxall's Historical Memoirs first appeared in 1815 and his Posthumous Memoirs in 1836. Even though the critics panned the work in 1815 as a scandelous mix of gossip & trash, the public loved it. He was sued for libel & forced to revise & reissue his work. Wraxall believed that the government of the day, furious at his truthfulness, was behind the libel action that sent him to prison for three months. Thus, he decided to publish the remainder of his memoirs after his death to avoid furthur litigation. Surprisingly, the posthumous work published in 1836 was critically acclaimed. Great Britain, Denmark, Society & Politics; B&W & Color Illus.; 8vo; 2256 pages .