Sets

Five small book illustrations. Circa 1720-40. Original copper plate engravings from a unknown book. Print sizes - 6.75cm x 10cm

Very Good condition

A Pair of Fine Quality Steel-line Portrait engravings.

1 - King Charles the First (d.1648) from the Original VanDyke painting. in the Collection of the Right Honorable. the Earl of Pembroke.

2 - Henrietta Maria (d. 1669) Queen of Charles the First from the Original painting by Van Dyke in the Collection of the Right Honorable. the Earl of Clarendon. [The History of England. Compiled from the Most Authentic Sources by David Hume and William Cooke Stafford.] Published by The London Printing and Publishing Company. This page is 7" x 11".

Very Good Condition

History of Britain, published by R. Bowyer, London, 1805.

1. Wonderful fine quality steel engraving titled, "Charles II and Sir William Temple", 1805. Charles II reclaimed the throne of England after 11 years of rule by Parliament alone. He was a popular king who epitomized the ideals of his age in the 17th century. Sir William Temple was a very respected politician who concluded several treaties between Britain and other countries. His more famous treaties included an alliance with Sweden and Holland against France and the marriage of Mary Stuart with William of Orange. Both men are here dressed in highly fashionable clothes of the late 17th century. Long frock coats reach to the knees and silk stockings are worn below the knees. Hair is worn long to the shoulders and generally curled.

2. Wonderful fine quality steel engraving titled, "Queen Margaret attacked by the robber", 1798. Queen Margaret of Anjou was the wife of King Henry VI of England during that period of unrest known as the Wars of the Roses. During her husbands breakdowns she ruled England strongly and effectively against the Yorkist`s. However, during the battle of Northampton in which the Lancastrians were defeated Margaret was forced to flee into the woodland with her young son, Edward. It was here that a robber discovered the Queen. Desperately the Queen called upon the robber`s mercy and revealed who she and her son were. This engraving shows this dramatic moment; Queen Margaret stands to the left of the engraving sheltering her young son while to the right stands the robber with a drawn sword.

3. Wonderful fine quality steel engraving titled, "The death of Sir Philip Sidney", 1796. Sir Philip Sidney was a courtesan in the court of Elizabeth I. Well liked by the general population and by others in the court he was sent to Flanders to help the people of the Netherlands fight against Spain. During a minor skirmish he was shot in the leg by a musket ball. Carried back to his own lines Sidney was about to be given water when he saw a dying soldier. Giving up his own drink to the soldier he said, "thy need is greater then mine own". Philip Sidney died 22 days later from the infected wound. His death was mourned all over England. This picture shows the moment when Sidney gives his water to the dying soldier. Battle surgeons bandage his injured leg while in the background two riders can be seen traveling back to England with news of his injury.

4. Wonderful fine quality steel engraving titled, "The landing of William 3rd at Torbay", 1804. William of Orange was invited to take the English throne from James II by the British Parliament. James II had converted to Catholicism and tried to rule without listening to Parliament. In retaliation, Parliament invited William to take the throne along with his wife, Mary, the daughter of James II. William took the throne in a bloodless revolution that became known as the "Glorious Revolution" and ruled England with his wife for many years. This picture shows the moment when William landed at Torquay to take on the throne of England. Cheering crowds surround him and he is met by two members of Parliament.

5. Wonderfully fine quality steel engraving titled, "Oliver Cromwell dissolving the Long Parliament", 1806. This engraving shows the final moments of the Long Parliament. Oliver Cromwell, now named as Lord Protector after the execution of Charles I, has become dissatisfied with the lack of progress made by the House of Commons. In response to this he decides to close Parliament. The only way he can do this is by removing the Ceremonial Mace, as according to tradition the House of Commons can only sit while The Mace is in the House. Cromwell orders a troop of soldiers into the House, an unprecedented move, and gives them The Mace to take away, thus closing Parliament. This picture shows Cromwell giving the officer in charge of the soldiers The Mace. Around him M P's stand in astonishment of this act and also a little fear of their self-elected Lord Protector.

6. Wonderful fine quality steel engraving titled, "interview between Queen Elizabeth and the Earl of Essex", 1806. This engraving shows Elizabeth I of England and Robert Deveraux, Earl of Essex. Essex was a flamboyant man in a flamboyant age and quickly became the Queen`s favorite. Nonetheless, history has portrayed him as a selfish brat who made many demands on the aging queen. After his failure to bring down the Irish reel Tyrone he returned to England without permission. Elizabeth refused to acknowledge him and in response he rebelled against the queen. However, the support that he expected never appeared and he was arrested and later executed on charges of High Treason. This picture shows Elizabeth receiving Essex before the rebellion.

7. Wonderful fine quality steel engraving titled showing an epitaph titled "Mary", 1795. This interesting engraving shows a tall epitaph Upon it is carved a picture of a woman dressed in the highest fashions of the 16th century. Above the picture a plaque holds "Mary". Sitting at the bottom of the epitaph is a grieving woman, drawn in a classical pose, and a figure of cupid, his bow and arrows discarded. This engraving probably relates to the death of Mary, Queen of Scots, who was often seen as a romantic figure during the 18th century.

8. Wonderful fine quality steel engraving titled, "Queen Mary`s escape from Lochleven Castle", 1795. This engraving shows the moments when Mary, Queen of Scots escaped from Lochleen castle where she was imprisoned by the Scottish nobles for the alleged murder of her husband, the Earl of Bothwell. After escaping from this castle she fled to England where she was once again imprisoned. She remained this way for 14 years until her execution for plotting against Elizabeth I. This engraving shows mat climbing on board a boat supported by a male steward. Behind her is Mary`s lady-in-waiting carrying a box with Mary`s jewels. On the far shore can be seen some horsemen who are waiting to take Mary to England. This engraving bears some water staining in the bottom quarter and along the top edge.

9. Wonderful fine quality steel engraving titled, "The collector of the poll-tax murdered by Wat Tyler", 1798. In 1381 a higher rate of tax was passed called the Poll Tax. Set at one shilling this was the equivalent of a weeks wages for a common laborer. In the southeast many of the peasants rebelled and marched on London. One of the leaders in this rebellion was Wat Tyler. According to folk tale Tyler joined the rebellion after a poll tax collector attempted to rape his wife. Tyler in return killed the tax collector. Tyler was eventually killed by the Mayor of London after Tyler drew a sword in the King`s presence. This picture shows Tyler about to kill the tax collector who is grappling with Tyler`s wife. Other people are looking on in shock at this scene.

10. Wonderful fine quality steel engraving titled, "Duke of Monmouth taken after the Battle of Sedgemoor", 1801. This engraving shows the Duke of Monmouth being captured by Royalist troops after his failed rebellion to prevent the Ascension of James II to the throne of England. Defeated at the Battle of Sedgemoor, Monmouth fled south in an attempt to escape to France. However, he was captured, arrested and executed for treason. This picture shows the Duke of Monmouth`s capture. He is seen hiding under the roots of a tree surrounded by a group of Royalist soldiers. One is mounted on horseback while three others are on foot. One has a loaded pistol ready in case the Duke tries to escape. Monmouth has his arm raised in protection against the soldiers.

11. Wonderful fine quality steel engraving titled, "Prince John`s submission to Richard I", 1795. After many years fighting in the Holy Land, Richard I returned to England to find that his brother John has all but taken over the kingdom. Richard seized the crown back from his brother and forced John to submit to him. This scene shows the moment when John is forced to submit to Richard. Richard stands majestically by his throne while in front of him kneels John. Their mother, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, stands over John begging Richard to forgive him. In the background can be seen a great many nobles and churchman watching the scene.

12. Wonderful fine quality steel engraving titled, "Death of Richard II", 1795. Richard II abdicated from the throne of England in 1399 in favor of his cousin, Henry Bolingbroke (Henry IV). Richard was imprisoned and died under mysterious circumstances in 1400. In the Shakespeare play, "Richard II", Richard is shown as being murdered by servants of Henry IV. This engraving shows that scene in which Richard is murdered. Richard stands in the center dressed in white robes and a large axe in his hands. At his feet are two men who he has killed already, four more men surround him armed with swords, shields and axes. Above Richard stands a man with raised axe about to slay him.

ALL the engravings are 13 1/2" x 18" and in very good condition with some foxing / browning around the edges.

A pair of very attractive steel-line engravings;

1 - Maiden in Meditation - a beautiful young woman sitting in contemplation. engraved by Gibbs from a painting by G.S. Newton RA.

2 - Thankful Children - two angelic faces engraved by S Sangster from a painting by T. Unwins RA.

Published by Blackie & Son. London. Glasgow and Edinburgh. Each page measures 5 3/4" x 8 1/2".

Very Good Condition