With an illuminated title leaf + 56 leaves with mounted examples of printed embossed crests, etc., each with a tissue guard. Containing over 2000 examples. 10¼x8, half green morocco and cloth, all edges gilt.
An elaborate example of this Victorian hobby. Each leaf within has a different design or border drawn, in a variety of watercolors as well as with silver and gilt lettering. Within those designs, the crests, monograms, arms, and other insignia have been mounted. Some examples of designs within include a page that is designed to look like scattered playing cards, crossed spears, letter envelopes, leaves of trees, ivy, and one with a watercolor illustration of two children blowing bubbles, the insignia mounted within the bubbles. Most of the pages have a manuscript key on the facing page, identifying the ownership of specific crest and armorial insignia. A number of the names in the keys are of Dukes, Duchesses, Barons, Baronesse, Esquire, Lords and Ladies, etc., including: S.M Napoleon III Emporeur des Francais, H.R.H Prince of Wales, Duke of Newcastle, Countess Wilton, Countess of Sandwich, Elizabeth, Marchioness of Westminster, H.R.H Prince Consort, Juliana, Countess of Leicester, Earl of Fife, Eliza, Countess of Effingham, Caroline, Countess of Seafield, Lady Windsor, Lady North, Lord Howard de Walden, Lady Mackenzie of Gairloch, Princess Edwarda of Saxe-Weimar, Capt. Hugh Seymour, Colonel Burton, and hundreds more. The final leaf simply reads "Finis" with gilt embellishments. Label on back of rear cover: “Repaired and Rebound, Peta Llowarch, 1964.”
Condition:
Light shelf wear, a few tiny spots of soiling to cloth; some faint smudging and offsetting to tissue guards; very good, contents clean, with only slight agetone, colors bright.