Historical Romances

William Ainsworth Harrison (1805-1882)was closely associated with the Gothic-Revival era, and his narrative style shared an affinity with Walter Scott. It is worth noting that he was commercially more successful than Charles Dickens in his day.

Edition des amis des arts, first state limited edition, number '6' of 10 COPIES; 25 vols plus supplementary portfolio of 74 plates, 4to (240 x 180 mm); illustrated with etchings in four states, within the relevant volumes: with colour facsimile title in each volume, with impressions of the historical portraits on india paper and with duplicates on papier de chine, with three impressions of the etchings on japan vellum, first state - remarque - after remarque, and one on dutch handmade paper, finished in watercolours, the plates on silk are largely after paintings by Hugh W. Ditzler, containing the extra illustrations published with this work, plates divided by tissue guards, many captioned in black lettering, remarkably good condition despite age-toning to page edges; contemporary full-green crushed levant, boards double-ruled in gilt, pastedowns inlaid with exuberantly decorative roses contained within green and pink leather bands, circulated by florid scrolls in gilt, blue moiré silk lining, brown leather spines gilt lettering, floral bouquets inlaid in leather to central compartment bordered with gilt dentures, all edges gilt, portfolio is housed in crushed green levant with gilt lettering to front and ruled in single-gilt, shelf worn to a degree, minor blemishes to silk moiré, minor rubbing, some scratch marks to surface area, faded lettering and bumped edges to a few volumes only, this remains a handsome and scarce set in very good condition.