London: Bernard Quaritch, 1868. Hardcover. Second Issue. Preceded by a short account of the Origin of the Alphabet, and of the successive methods of recording events before the invention of printing. Includes chapters on ancient writing methods, the earliest Roman records, manuscript and block books from the middle ages, the origin (in the West) of moveable type, Gutenberg, Fust and Schoiffher, the printing press in Italy and South of Europe, Printing in France, Printing in Flanders and Holland, Spain and Portugal, the advent of the press in England, illustrations of the art of printing, and more. Illustrated with 100 fac-similies in photolithography, all plates are present but are not bound in numerical order. Bound in three-quarter brown leather over grey pebbled cloth covered boards with gilt title to spine. Ex-library with an embossed stamp to the title page and a sticker to the spine. Wear and rubbing to joines, edges of boards, and corners. Bumping to corners. Large scuff to rear board. Marbled endpapers and top edge gilt. Previous owner's signature in pen to front free endpaper. Clean and bright overall with toning to margins, occasional spots of foxing, and occasional smudge marks to margins. Folio. 216 pages plus plates. BOB/020623. Very Good.

Item #36356

Price: $200.00