Elder Books and Collectables

Description

The Gentleman & Cabinet Maker's Director

Being A Large Collection Of The Most Elegant & Useful Designs Of Household Furniture In The Gothic Chinese & Modern Taste.

By Thomas Chippendale

Printed For The Author & Sold At His House In St. Martins Lane, London.

1754. First Edition. First Printing

Hardback Bound In A Late 19th Century Full Leather Binding With Gilt Inner Dentelles & Marbled Endpapers, Page Edges Gilt.

A Complete Copy With Half Title & 161 Full Page Engravings With Engravings A & B For Plate 25.

This Copy Is From The Library Of Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl Of Rosebury With His Bookplate To Inner Front Board.

Rosebury Was British Prime Minister From March 1894 - June 1895 & Succeeded Gladstone. Rumoured To Be Homosexual With A Connection To The Oscar Wilde Scandal, Primrose Was Pursued By The Marquess Of Queensbury For His Association With His Other Son Francis Douglas Who Became Private Secretary To Rosebury.

Book Measures Approx 19 X 12 Inches

Some Hairline Cracks To Leather At Outer Hinges With Boards Holding Very Firm, Few Minor Marks Or Minor Scuffs To Boards, Expert Marginal Repairs To Half Title & Title Page, Few Creases To Half Title & First Few Text Pages, Endpapers & Half Title With Moderate Foxing, Very Occasional Minor Marks To Text Pages & Engravings

Overall A Superb Copy With Gilt To Spine Bright, Boards Well Attached & Plates Free From Foxing

A Rare & Complete First Printing Of A Key Book On Fine Furniture, Bound In An Exceptional Full Leather Binding & From The Library Of The Earl Of Rosebury

Heavy Book.