Oxford: The Theatre, 1702, 1703, 1704, 1759. First edition. Folios, four volumes. In Good condition. Bound in full green leather with gilt titling and ornamentation to spines and boards. Spines faded to brown, with rubbing and wear to edges, cracking to hinges, and bumping to corners. Boards significantly worn and discolored. Front boards of vols. I and III show significant peeling of leather, with evidence of non-professional application of dye and gilt to affected areas. Monogrammed binding, with the name LOWTHER (presumably for Lowther Castle, the historical residence of the Earls of Lonsdale) to front and rear boards of all volumes. Bound with silk moire endpapers to all four volumes, with the bookplate of Hugh Cecil Lowther, fifth Earl of Lonsdale (1857-1944), to the front pastedown of each volume. All four volumes appear to be extra-illustrated, with additional prints not originally associated with the publication bound in and occasionally glued to pages. Occasionally additional plates bound in were subsequently excised, most notably between pp. 294 and 295 of vol. 1, but the text is nevertheless continuous. Some larger additional plates have been trimmed and/or folded to fit into the volume. Text blocks show light plus age toning, occasional foxing, and occasional offsetting.
CONTENTS: Volume 1: xxiii, 557 pages. Text of half title has been excised, pasted to a new page, and bound in. – Volume 2: [18], 581 pages. – Volume 3: [26], 603, [21] pages. – Volume 4: iii, 133, 523, [11] pages.
Oversized order. Additional shipping and handling will be necessary for expedited and international orders. Economy international shipping unavailable due to size and weight restrictions. Please contact seller with any questions. Shelved in Room A. PH Consignment. More