WITH FOUR BEAUTIFUL HAND-COLORED MINIATURES IN FAITHFUL IMITATION OF MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPTS, HIGHLIGHTED IN GILT, ELEGANTLY BOUND BY COBDEN-SANDERSON AT THE DOVES BINDERY

COSTELLO, Louisa Stuart. Specimens of the Early Poetry of France from the Time of the Troubadours and Trouveres to the Reign of Henri Quatre. London: William Pickering, 1835. Octavo, late 19th-century full crimson polished morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, raised bands, all edges gilt. $1800.

First edition of Costello's translations of early French poetry, with four lovely hand-colored illuminated miniatures by Costello after manuscripts in the King's Library in Paris and the British Museum, highlighted in gilt, beautifully bound in full gilt-tooled polished morocco by Cobden-Sanderson at the renowned Doves Bindery in 1895. From the library of renowned American aviator and collector Cortlandt Bishop, with his bookplate.

An accomplished painter of miniatures and copyist of illuminated manuscripts, Costello also published several well-received volumes of lyrical poetry, both original and translations. "About 1820 [at the age of 21] Costello moved to London, where she continued to paint miniatures, some of which she exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1822 and 1839… she also seems to have frequently visited the continent, particularly France, during the 1820s and 1830s. Many of these trips may have been connected with her work as a copyist of illuminated manuscripts in both London and Paris; some examples are held in the British Museum… In 1835 she published Specimens of the Early Poetry of France, lyrical if rather fussy translations of a wide range of medieval French poets. This work made her literary reputation and attracted the attention of Thomas Moore, to whom it was dedicated, and Walter Scott" (ODNB). "We warmly recommend Miss Costello's very elegant little work" (contemporary review in the London Athenaeum).

Elegantly bound by Cobden-Sanderson at The Doves Bindery in full polished morocco-gilt in 1895 (with the code "18C-S95" on rear dentelle). Cobden-Sanderson took up bookbinding at the urging of William Morris' wife and learned his craft under Roger de Coverley. In 1893 he set up the Doves Bindery, employing a group of skilled craftsmen from the Zaehnsdorf and Rivière binderies to interpret his designs. "The more he admired a work the more sumptuously he bound it. He worked in gold on leather, using simple, mainly floral tools of his own design, and his rich effects brought a kind of springtime to the French and English binding traditions on which he drew. He seemed to have found his métier. He worked as a binder for only about ten years, but he started a tradition of fine binding in Britain which continues to the present day" (ODNB). Allibone, 432. Bookplate of American aviator Cortlandt Field Bishop. In addition to being a pioneer in aviation, Bishop was a committed collector and arts patron who collected widely, across many fields. However, his most striking collection was his book collection, and the 1938-39 auctions of his library raised record sums on many items.

Interior clean and fine, joints and spine ends expertly repairesd. A beautifully bound volume.