Estate / Collection: The Collection of Eldo Netto

LORRAIN, CLAUDE [CLAUDE GELEE]

Liber Veritatis; Or, a collection of prints after the original designs of Claude Le Lorrain; in the collection of His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, executed by Richard Earlom... London: Boydell and Co. [volumes I and II] and Hurst, Robinson [volume III], 1777–1777–1819. Mixed set comprising early editions of volumes I and II, and a later edition of volume III (dated 1819 rather than 1817). Three volumes, matching full green morocco elaborately gilt, roughly coeval with the final volume, the covers with borders of foliate rolls within broad and narrow rules and pointillé rolls, gilt turn-ins, spines gilt in compartments, lettered in two and at the foot, the others decorated with foliate designs, all edges gilt. 16 1/2 x 10 3/4 inches (42 x 27 cm); 12 pp., portrait of Lorrain, 100 plates in mezzotint printed in bistre, additional variant state of volume I, plate 17 loosely inserted; 6 pp., 100 plates in mezzotint printed in bistre; 6 pp., two portraits (Earlom and Boydell), 100 plates in mezzotint printed in bistre. Externally, very minor rubbing to the joints and edges of the boards, and scattered unobtrusive spotting to the covers, but in all this is a magnificently bound copy of the book. Internally there is some minor toning to the plates, the first two volumes have some nominal spotting and toning to the plate edges, but these are unusually fresh and clean. The third and final volume has slightly more foxing but is still far cleaner than most examples. Volume III plates 6 and 94 are trimmed across the platemark.

Claude's Liber Veritatis (Book of Truth) contains masterly renderings by Richard Earlom of the artist's great sketchbook, now in the British Museum. The third volume was issued in 1819. This set is unusually clean, with very little of the foxing that so commonly defaces the work. Abbey Life 200; Cohen-De Ricci 242.

Provenance: early British Museum ("Museum Brittanicum") ink stamps on verso of volume I title and verso of volume II, plate 200; 'Duplicate for Sale' blindstamp on margin of volume II, plate 200. "3 vols proof impressions" is indicated in an early pencil inscription on front free endpaper of vol. I; at some point to Longleat House, Warminster England, home of the Marquess of Bath; sold Christie's 3 Jun 2002, lot 82, £15,535; to Shapero Rare Books; thence to Eldo Netto.