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Walpole, Horace, 4th Earl of Orford (1717--1797) - Art collections, Early works to 1800
[Works. 1798]
The works of Horatio Walpole, Earl of Orford. In five volumes. ...
London (Place), printed for G. G. and J. Robinson, and J. Edwards,, 1798.
5 vols ; 29.8 cm. (4º)
I: xxiv, 577, [1] p., frontis. port., [3] pl.
II: [6], 220, [1], 222*--*252, [2], 223--576 p., [38] pl. (4 fold.)
III: vii, [1], 512 p., frontis., [101] pl.
IV: vii, [1], 468 p., [9] pl.
V: vi, 675, [5] p., [11] pl.

This is a 'large paper' copy of the first issue with the title-pages watermarked '1797' and gutter margins measuring 3.8 cm. Four further volumes, not in the Soane Museum, were later added to the set: vol. VI in 1818, vols VII--VIII in 1822 and vol. IX in 1825. This collection of Walpole's works was edited by his close friend Mary Berry. Horace Walpole, son of Britain's first prime minister Sir Robert Walpole, was a collector, man of letters, and amateur architect, remembered chiefly for his voluminous correspondence, the first gothic novel The Castle of Otranto (1764; 1786 edition, q.v.), and his Gothic revival villa at Strawberry Hill, Twickenham; considered as an historian, his whig bias and amateur antiquarianism drew criticism. The 'Anecdotes of Painting' in vol. III and 'Catalogue of Engravers' in vol. IV were compiled from manuscripts of George Vertue. The frontispiece portrait of Walpole is after Sir Thomas Lawrence. The title-pages have engraved vignettes with images of Strawberry Hill or Walpole's motto 'Fari quae sentiat'. ESTC t149674; Hazen 27.

Copy Notes Bought from Thomas Boone for 8 guineas, 9 November 1816. (Spiers Box). Vol. I inscribed in pencil on verso of front free-endpaper: Extra bound in Hogskin & Plates good impressions. 5 vols. £9:0s:0d. With list of contents of vol. IV misbound in vol. III.

Binding Early C19th pigskin, gilt-ruled and blind-tooled borders, gilt-tooled spine, marbled endpapers and edges, brown silk bookmarks, inside of hinges reinforced with calf.

Reference Number 479

Additional Names Thomas Boone; Vertue, George (1684--1756); Berry, Mary


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