Hans Holbein the Younger (1497-1543) – John Chamberlaine (1745-1812; editor) and Edmund Lodge (1756-1839)
Imitations of Original Drawings by Hans Holbein in the Collection of His Majesty, for the Portraits of Illustrious Persons of the Court of Henry VIII. With Biographical Tracts. London: W. Bulmer & Co. for John Chamberlaine, 1792[-1800].
Folio (544 x 420mm). 84 stipple engravings printed in colours on 83 sheets, all but four by F. Bartolozzi after Holbein, with 37 on pink paper, 33 on pink paper mounted on white sheets, and 15 on white paper (1 loose, a few of those on white sheets with variable spotting, a couple of captions trimmed close). Early nineteenth-century red straight-grained morocco, gilt, covers with a large double lined panel with a decorative arrow in each corner within multiple roll-tooled borders, spine gilt in compartments, gilt turn-ins and edges (joints sometime extensively repaired, worn with upper cover detached, spine darkened). Provenance: Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto (1751-1814; armorial book label) – Sotheby’s 18 December 1986, lot 232.

An impressive example of colour printing in an elaborate binding. 'This magnificent work is surely the finest example of English color printing.' (Ray). ‘In every way a splendid book’ (Abbey). The original drawings upon which these are based enjoyed varying fortunes before their rediscovery by Queen Caroline in a bureau of her closet at Kensington Palace and subsequent publication under the auspices of Chamberlaine, Keeper of George III's drawings, with biographical notices provided by Edmund Lodge. It was issued over the years 1792 to 1800 and the plates are known in several states. The present copy includes plates on pink paper, pink paper mounted on white sheets and a few on white paper. Abbey Life 205; Bobins II, 667; Ray 19.