One Thousand and One Initial Letters, Designed and Illuminated by Owen Jones

First edition. Chromolithographed and published by Day and Son, lithographers to the Queen [Queen Victoria]. 25 gloriously illuminated plates of initial letters, one further featuring roman and Arabic numbers and illuminated title page (the plate for the letter N is absent), each tissue-guarded (26 plates plus illuminated title page in all). Elephant folio. Disbound, portfolio boards present, missing backstrip. Boards heavily worn, rubbed and chipped at edges, cloth fraying at corners, with small portion worn away on upper leading corner. Plate rubbed and chipped at edges, with some old damp staining on edges (rarely affecting lettering). An important yet scarce volume of Owen Jones influential work in the neo-Gothic style, which he did much to popularise in the mid 19th century. Although at best in poor condition, the plates are still magnificent, suitable for reference, inspiration and research purposes, while the volume itself might warrant restoration and rebinding. See R McLean, “Victorian Book Design and Colour Printing”, pp.86, 132.