![[FINE BINDING-COSWAY] LOFTIE, W. J. London City; its history--streets--traffic--buildings--people](/sites/default/files/styles/auction_slider/public/images/lots/2015-11-23/1101021.jpg?itok=fwgNmuUW)
Lot Details
Lot 127
[FINE BINDING-COSWAY] LOFTIE, W. J. London City; its history--streets--traffic--buildings--people. London: Leadenhall Press,...
. London: Leadenhall Press, 1891. Full dark olive levant morocco by Rivière with an overall pattern of ivy leaves and stems extending over the covers in gilt, with eight large rectangular inset Cosway-style miniatures of street cries by C.B. Currie, four on each cover, each inset behind glass, spine in seven compartments also tooled with the ivy leaf motif, lettered in the second and fourth, broad dentelles, the rear with Miss Currie's stamp at lower center, red moire silk doublures and endsheets, top edge gilt; the whole housed in a scarlet morocco pull-off case by Rivière. Binding 13 1/8 x 11 inches (33 x 28 cm); 294 pp., illustrated throughout. Minute wear to binding, a touch more to the case, in all a very fresh example of a Rivière Cosway binding at its most elaborate.
The miniatures are identified by a calligraphic guide sheet, all taken from the Cries of London. They include "Primroses!"; "Fresh-shelled peas!"; "Chairs to mend!"; "Milk Maids!" on the front cover. The rear bears "Mackerel!"; "Sweet china oranges"; "Scissors to grind!" and "Carrots and Turnips!". Each measures 4 1/8 x 3 1/2 inches (10.3 x 8 cm). Miss Currie was Caroline Billin Curry, a rather enigmatic figure, about whom very little is known biographically. This is an early, unumbered example of her work, which extends from 1912 to about 1940. Not only an extraordinarily impressive binding, this work is also a delightful item relating to London street cries, a genre in its own right.
C
Additional Notes & Condition Report
No condition report? Click here to request one.