“AN INDISPENSABLE AUTHORITY”

STANHOPE, Earl (Philip Henry). Life of the Right Honorable William Pitt. London: John Murray, 1861-62. Four volumes. Octavo, early 20th-century three-quarter navy morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, raised bands, top edge gilt, uncut. $1450.

First edition of Stanhope’s life of Pitt, with two engraved frontispieces, handsomely bound by Atelier.

"Perhaps (Stanhope's) most important work was The Life of the Right Hon. William Pitt… This still remains the standard life of Pitt, and an indispensable authority on the history of the period" (DNB). "Earl Stanhope has written from the best materials a most interesting biography of the younger Pitt, with whom he was connected by family ties, by sentiments of gratitude, and by the affinities of political principles; yet he has not hesitated to expose the very grave defects in his character and conduct, and has obtained approbation for candor" (George Bancroft, in Allibone, 2221). CBEL II:889.

Some foxing to preliminary and concluding pages, binding fine.