Lot 158
  • 158

Stone, Marcus.

Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
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Description

  • Cosas de España, comprising a unique manuscript with original illustrations in a calligraphic script
  • PAPER
4to, dated 1865, 16 full-page original ink and watercolour illustrations and 32 vignettes by Marcus Stone, unsigned, contemporary blue morocco gilt with ornate geometrical design in gilt and black on covers and spine, gilt edges, watered silk doublures, folding wooden box with velvet lining by Newman of Soho Square, bookplate of Annie Cowdray (featuring view of Dunecht House), some very minor spotting, binding very slightly chipped at some extremities, some minor marks and scratches to binding, scratches to wooden box

Provenance

The Valuable and Extensive Library of Printed Books of Frederick William Cosens, Esq. (Sotheby's, 11 November 1890, lot 4361); Annie Cowdray (bookplate)

Catalogue Note

The volume comprises three wine-related verses with numerous illustrations: 'Friar Francis "The Tippler" and his Peculiar Experiences with the Devil' (pencil vignette, 7 ink and watercolour vignettes and 3 full-page ink and watercolour drawings), 'La Morena Chico and Don Sanchez. The Course of True Love in Grenada' (three pencil vignettes, 21 ink and watercolour vignettes and 10 full-page ink and watercolour drawings), and 'Wine Lees' (pencil vignette, 4 ink and watercolour vignettes and 3 full-page ink and watercolour drawings).

The illustrator and genre painter Marcus Stone (1840-1921) was the first illustrator of Dickens' Our Mutual Friend (in original parts and book form). Dickens wrote that Stone '...is an admirable draughtsman, has a most dexterous hand, a charming sense of grace and beauty, and a capital power of observation' (see Frederic G. Kitton, Dickens and his Illustrators, 1899, second edition, p. 194). Kitton records six other Dickens titles (in cheap or library editions) for which Stone provided illustrations. The artist also provided illustrations for Trollope's He Knew He Was Right.

Frederick William Cosens (1819-1889) was, according to his obituary in The Athenaeum (14 December 1889) and The Times (14 December 1889), 'one of the largest importers of sherry in London' who 'also acquired an intimate knowledge of the language and literature of Spain'. He is reported to have 'used his wealth wisely' and '...formed a fine collection of pictures by modern artists... and... amassed a valuable library of English and Spanish books'. As an avid Dickens collector, Cosens commissioned both Hablot Knight Browne and Stone to produce work for him. The present volume is an example of one of these commissions.

Cosens' library was sold in these rooms on 11 November 1890 and the eleven subsequent days. A sale report in The Times notes that this volume sold for £60 (see The Times, 24 November 1890, p. 13). Cosens had also acquired the original drawings for Our Mutual Friend which sold at the sale for £66.

The volume includes four autograph letters signed ("Marcus Stone") to F.W. Cosens, 25 May – 5 July 1865 and undated, discussing the commission, delays and acknowledging payment ("...Permit me to acknowledge the cheque for 277.1.0 for the illustrations to the 'Cosas de Espana' and the first volume of the 'Mutual Friend'... I fear you are a bad man of business to pay debts before they are debts'), 5 pages, Russell House, Tavistock Square, some creases and spotting