Opera

French Royal Provenance? - CATULLUS, TIBULLUS and PROPERTIUS.

Opera. Birmingham: typis Johannis Baskerville, 1772.Quarto (11 5/8 x 9 inches). Pp. [2], 372 [i.e. 352]. Lightly ruled in red throughout. (Some toning and spotting.) Contemporary French citron morocco binding, covers with elaborate 'dentelle' decoration, the tooling including the repeated use of a crowned fleur-de-lys, spine in six compartments with raised bands, red morocco labels in the second and sixth compartments, black morocco in the third, the others with elaborate overall repeat decoration in gilt, gilt turn-ins, purple watered silk endleaves, gilt edges (light scuffing, corners bumped, some darkening to spine, two blemishes to leather on lower cover).

Provenance: J. or T. Lyman, jr. (19th century signature).

An exceptional copy of one of Baskerville's typographic marvels, here in a French 'citron' morocco binding of exceptional quality. Possibly the work of  Lawrence A. Miller's 'Atelier MM binder' (see http://www.cyclopaedia.org/virtual/bookbinding.html).

There is another intriguing possibility: the first volume of the library sale catalogue of Justin MacCarthy Reagh, Count MacCarthy, was published by de Bure freres in 1815. Amongst the dozen or so Baskerville imprints there are two bound in 'citron' morocco bindings with so-called 'dentelle' tooling, both with the text 'reglé' or ruled : a copy of the present work, and a copy of the companion volume that is also for sale in the present auction (see lots 2535 and 2668). Might these two works have come from the Count's famous collection? Unfortunately, I have not been able to track down any information about the Lyman who owned both volumes in the 19th century, but the Lyman family of New England is probably a good place to start.

Gaskell 44; Rothschild 2650.