Francis the First
- London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1934
London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1934. First edition. Fine. Octavo (8 5/16 x 5 1/4 inches; 212 x 133 mm.). [x], [1]-479, [1, blank] pp. Sixteeen photogravure plates. Bound by Bayntun (Rivière) Bath ca. 1948 (stamp-signed in gilt on front turn-in) in full wine red crushed levant morocco over beveled boards. Covers with elaborate floral design corner-pieces. Front cover with an oval border of gilt thistles and leaves and in the center a fine hand-painted portrait miniature (3 1/4 x 2 1/2 inches; 83 x 63 mm.) of Annas de Montmorency set under glass. Spine with five raised bands elaborately tooled and lettered in gilt in compartments. Decorative gilt board-edges, wide gilt-ruled turn-ins, marbled liners and endleaves, all edges gilt. With the maroon morocco gilt bookplate of W. A. Foyle, Beeleigh Abbey on front paste-down. Housed in the original felt-lined tan cloth slipcase. An exceptionally fine example from one of the major English collections.
Francis I, King of France (1515–47), first of five monarchs from the Angoulême branch of the House of Valois to rule France ascending to the thrown in 1515. The Renaissance ruler was famed for his patronage of the arts and intellectualism as well as his political maneuvering with other European powers. Interestingly, it is not Francis featured in this Cosway style portrait, but the Duke Annas de Montmorency (c.1493-1567), a favorite of the king, and active statesman for Francis I’s court.
George Bayntun (1873-1940) was the founder of Bayntun Bindery (1894) dedicated to using traditional hand-crafted techniques and high-quality materials. “The Riviere Bindery was one of the most notable and prolific shops in London's West End from about 1840 through 1939” (Princeton). Bath-based Bayntun Bindery acquired the firm in 1939, transforming into the “Bayntun-Riviere bindery,” which is still in existence and family owned. Although named after the English miniaturist Richard Cosway (1742-1821), the desirable “Cosway Binding” with its jewel-like portrait miniature set into a fine binding was first developed at the turn of the century by J.H. Stonehouse, director of London’s Henry Sotheran Booksellers. Their miniatures were painstakingly crafted by the talented painter Miss C. B. Currie (1849-1940). As the style grew in popularity, other publishing houses quickly began to reproduce this technique—each developing their own desirable take on the aesthetic—referred to as “Cosway style.”. Fine.
Francis I, King of France (1515–47), first of five monarchs from the Angoulême branch of the House of Valois to rule France ascending to the thrown in 1515. The Renaissance ruler was famed for his patronage of the arts and intellectualism as well as his political maneuvering with other European powers. Interestingly, it is not Francis featured in this Cosway style portrait, but the Duke Annas de Montmorency (c.1493-1567), a favorite of the king, and active statesman for Francis I’s court.
George Bayntun (1873-1940) was the founder of Bayntun Bindery (1894) dedicated to using traditional hand-crafted techniques and high-quality materials. “The Riviere Bindery was one of the most notable and prolific shops in London's West End from about 1840 through 1939” (Princeton). Bath-based Bayntun Bindery acquired the firm in 1939, transforming into the “Bayntun-Riviere bindery,” which is still in existence and family owned. Although named after the English miniaturist Richard Cosway (1742-1821), the desirable “Cosway Binding” with its jewel-like portrait miniature set into a fine binding was first developed at the turn of the century by J.H. Stonehouse, director of London’s Henry Sotheran Booksellers. Their miniatures were painstakingly crafted by the talented painter Miss C. B. Currie (1849-1940). As the style grew in popularity, other publishing houses quickly began to reproduce this technique—each developing their own desirable take on the aesthetic—referred to as “Cosway style.”. Fine.