Cowley, Abraham

Folio (11 3/4 x 7 5/8 in.; 299 x 194 mm). Mezzotint frontispiece portrait of Cowley by William Faithorne signed in the plate in the lower right, woodcut device on title-page of a caduceus surmounted by Pegasus, woodcut factototum, several headings with printer's ornaments, separate title-pages for "The Mistress," "Pindaresque Odes," and "Davideis, a Sacred Poem," but with continuous register; with "An Account of the Life and Writings of Mr. Abraham Cowley" by Thomas Sprat, a mezzotint portrait of Cowley signed by William Faithorne in the lower left and dated 1687 loosely laid in; faint marginal staining in quire Zz and leaf Ooo3. Contemporary red morocco, ivory and black inlays in outer border and central panel, culminating in a central ivory lozenge, all elaborately tooled in gilt with distinctive bunches of grapes, long-stemmed tulips, large vase-of-flowers, and pierced half-moon tools, the spine in six compartments, a black morocco label in the uppermost compartment gilt-stamped with an owl tool, the second compartment lettered gilt, the remaining compartments gilt-stamped with an elaborate arabesque panel, marbled endpapers, edges gilt; ivory inlays on upper cover lightly rubbed. Half red morocco slipcase, cloth chemise.

Silence Folkes (autograph inscription on title-page "Silence Folkes her Booke Anno Dmⁱ 1705, armorial bookplate on front pastedown, and her initials stamped in red on bottom edge) — Robert Hoe (red morocco label; Anderson, 8 January 1912, lot 211) — Beverly Chew (blue morocco label; Anderson Galleries, 8 December 1924, lot 94); purchased at foregoing sale by Dr. A.S.W. Rosenbach. acquisition: John Fleming

Wing C6655; ESTC R21123. For the binding: Nixon, Five Centuries of English Bookbinding, No. 47, illustrating this binding;  Nixon, "English Bookbindings LXXXIX. A Binding by Elizabeth Dickinson's Binder c. 1681," in The Book Collector, (Vol. 23; No. 2, Summer 1974), p. 212, illustrating this binding; cf. Nixon, English Restoration Bindings, p. 40 and Hobson, English Bindings 1490–1940 in the Library of J.R. Abbey, no. 60

Folio (11 3/4 x 7 5/8 in.; 299 x 194 mm). Mezzotint frontispiece portrait of Cowley by William Faithorne signed in the plate in the lower right, woodcut device on title-page of a caduceus surmounted by Pegasus, woodcut factototum, several headings with printer's ornaments, separate title-pages for "The Mistress," "Pindaresque Odes," and "Davideis, a Sacred Poem", but with continuous register; with "An Account of the Life and Writings of Mr. Abraham Cowley" by Thomas Sprat, a mezzotint portrait of Cowley signed by William Faithorne in the lower left and dated 1687 loosely laid in; faint marginal staining in quire Zz and leaf Ooo3. Contemporary red morocco, ivory and black inlays in outer border and central panel, culminating in a central ivory lozenge, all elaborately tooled in gilt with distinctive bunches of grapes, long-stemmed tulips, large flowers-in-vase, and pierced half moon tools, the spine in six compartments, a black morocco label in the uppermost compartment gilt-stamped with an owl tool, the second compartment lettered gilt, the remaining compartments gilt-stamped with an elaborate arabesque panel, marbled endpapers, edges gilt; ivory inlays on upper cover lightly rubbed. Half red morocco slipcase, cloth chemise.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

A sumptuous contemporary binding, identified by Howard M. Nixon as "Elizabeth Dickinson's binder."  The present binding shares tools with one in the Morgan Library, including a distinctive large vase-of-flowers and bunches of grapes. The Morgan binding containing a Common Book of Prayer, Bible, and Psalms in metre (Cambridge, 1683), is credited as the "Elizabeth Dickinson's binder" after its original owner whose name is stamped on the original leather of the spine. The binding also bears an eminent provenance, having passed through the distinguished libraries of Robert Hoe, Beverly Chew, and Dr. A.S.W. Rosenbach.