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Scraps From the Sketch-Book of Henry Alken
by ALKEN, Henry
- Used
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
Calabasas, California, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: Thomas M'Lean, 1825. Very Scarce Alken
With Forty-Two Hand-Colored Plates
Engraved by Alken Himself
ALKEN, Henry. Scraps From the Sketch-Book of Henry Alken. Engraved by Himself. Containing Forty-Two Plates. London: Thomas M'Lean, 1825.
Second edition (plates dated 1820), complete; preceded by the oblong quarto edition of 1823, but of equal rarity.
Tall octavo (10 x 8 1/4 in; 254 x 210). Title leaf (verso blank), and forty-two hand-colored engraved plates, twelve with multiple images. Title-page watermarked "1822", plates watermarked "J. Whatman 1822 & 1823".
Contemporary half crimson morocco over pink paper boards. Original red leather title label lettered in gilt to upper board. Smooth spine ruled in gilt. Small bookplate to front free-endpaper. A fine copy of an extremely scarce album by Henry Alken.
This edition of 1825 has not been seen at auction since 1968. The last copy of the first edition of 1821 came to auction in 1970. OCLC records just three copies of the first edition of 1823. There are no copies of the edition under notice in institutional holdings across the globe.
While Siltzer notes an Alken Sketch Book of 1820 (34 plates), and the Scraps... edition of 1822, he makes no mention of an 1825 octavo edition. It is not in found in Tooley or Abbey in any edition.
The "Scraps" include equestrian, hunting, dog, bowling scenes, etc. In short, each print features a sporting tableau.
Of Alken, Siltzer wrote, "It took but a short time for the leading art publishers of London to recognize his genius and to discover that they had 'struck a reef' of both artistic and financial value, and the well-known firms of Thomas M'Lean, S. and J. Fuller, and Rudolph Ackermann were not slow to reaping full benefit... It appears that Alken himself occasionally engraved plates, and thus added to the facility of production..."
Cf. Siltzer, p. 71.
With Forty-Two Hand-Colored Plates
Engraved by Alken Himself
ALKEN, Henry. Scraps From the Sketch-Book of Henry Alken. Engraved by Himself. Containing Forty-Two Plates. London: Thomas M'Lean, 1825.
Second edition (plates dated 1820), complete; preceded by the oblong quarto edition of 1823, but of equal rarity.
Tall octavo (10 x 8 1/4 in; 254 x 210). Title leaf (verso blank), and forty-two hand-colored engraved plates, twelve with multiple images. Title-page watermarked "1822", plates watermarked "J. Whatman 1822 & 1823".
Contemporary half crimson morocco over pink paper boards. Original red leather title label lettered in gilt to upper board. Smooth spine ruled in gilt. Small bookplate to front free-endpaper. A fine copy of an extremely scarce album by Henry Alken.
This edition of 1825 has not been seen at auction since 1968. The last copy of the first edition of 1821 came to auction in 1970. OCLC records just three copies of the first edition of 1823. There are no copies of the edition under notice in institutional holdings across the globe.
While Siltzer notes an Alken Sketch Book of 1820 (34 plates), and the Scraps... edition of 1822, he makes no mention of an 1825 octavo edition. It is not in found in Tooley or Abbey in any edition.
The "Scraps" include equestrian, hunting, dog, bowling scenes, etc. In short, each print features a sporting tableau.
Of Alken, Siltzer wrote, "It took but a short time for the leading art publishers of London to recognize his genius and to discover that they had 'struck a reef' of both artistic and financial value, and the well-known firms of Thomas M'Lean, S. and J. Fuller, and Rudolph Ackermann were not slow to reaping full benefit... It appears that Alken himself occasionally engraved plates, and thus added to the facility of production..."
Cf. Siltzer, p. 71.
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Details
- Bookseller
- David Brass Rare Books, Inc.
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 01902
- Title
- Scraps From the Sketch-Book of Henry Alken
- Author
- ALKEN, Henry
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Publisher
- London: Thomas M'Lean, 1825
Terms of Sale
David Brass Rare Books, Inc.
We will extend to you a 48-hour approval period on all items that are purchased sight unseen. If you are not completely satisfied with the item simply contact us within 48 hours after receipt, and then return it in the same condition you received it for a full refund, less freight charges, or any related costs including credit card transactions, taxes, and duties levied, especially when returning from other countries.
About the Seller
David Brass Rare Books, Inc.
Biblio member since 2007
Calabasas, California
About David Brass Rare Books, Inc.
David Brass Rare Books, Inc. specializes in buying and selling only the finest examples of English, American and European Literature, Children\\\'s Books, Color-Plate Books, Illustrated Books, Early Printed Books, Private Press Books, Fine Bindings, Original Artwork, Manuscripts, High Spot Modern First Editions, Rare Books and High Spots.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Octavo
- Another of the terms referring to page or book size, octavo refers to a standard printer's sheet folded four times, producing...
- Bookplate
- Highly sought after by some collectors, a book plate is an inscribed or decorative device that identifies the owner, or former...
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Quarto
- The term quarto is used to describe a page or book size. A printed sheet is made with four pages of text on each side, and the...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
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