The night-flyers. A series of moth pictures.

£1,800 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books · No longer available

'A scarce treasure for the collector' (Dunbar). Published in Paul Gerard's series Cream and Gold Presents appropriate for marriage, birthday and festive occasions for all seasons, these were the ultimate in Victorian drawing-room books. Originally brought out in a gutta-percha binding, copies easily fell apart and few have survived. The present copy is extremely fine. First edition. 8vo. Hand-coloured pictorial title-page, hand-coloured presentation page, 10 fine hand-coloured lithograph plates, text printed in red with decorative borders of grasses printed in gold. Contemporary green morocco gilt, covers with fancy gilt borders and decorative gilt centre panel, panelled spine in 6 compartments, red morocco lettering piece with gilt to second, others richly gilt, raised bands, all edges gilt. Dunbar p56.

• Binding: Hardcover

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