The Poetical Works of Reginald Heber

Bishop Heber, The Poetical Works of Reginald Heber, London, Frederick Warne and company, Circa 1850s

pp. xii, 433 including engraved portrait frontispiece with tissue guard, further black and white plates and in-text illustrations throughout, printed and engraved by Dalziel Brothers. Text in a red lined border; full calf, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, inner dentelles gilt
7.8 x 5.8 x 1.2 in (19.5 x 14.5 x 3 cm)

RARE FORE-EDGE PAINTING OF CALCUTTA

The leather-bound volume contains an unusual fore-edge painting depicting the Government Buildings of Calcutta, with Indian and British Soldiers some on horseback along with weapons and one caparisoned elephant with howdah, mahout, and a Raja.

Fore-edge paintings are rare, unique embellishments to otherwise less significant, mass-produced bound books, and comprise scenes painted on the unbound edge of a book, which usually becomes visible when the book is fanned out or opened. (Fore-edge Painting, Virginia Museum of History and Culture, virginiahistory.org, online) This decorative technique dates back to the Middle Ages in Europe and was practiced through the 18th century by bookbinders, but was less common in the 19th century.

NON-EXPORTABLE