Anecdotes of Painters, Edward Edwards — 1st Edition

£45.00

Anecdotes of Painters, Edward Edwards — 1st Edition

Name: Anecdotes of Painters, Edward Edwards — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5989
Price: 45.00 GBP
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Publication: London, Printed by Luke Hansard & Sons for Leigh and Sotheby, W.J. and J. Richardson, R. Faulder, T. Payne, and J. White, 1808

Formatting: 4to, pp. [xxxix], viii, 327.

Condition Report: Fair. The book is bound in an early-to-mid nineteenth-century secondary green blind-stamped cloth binding. The binding is visibly worn, with the spine uniformly sunned to a brown tone. There is noticeable chipping, fraying, and splitting to the cloth at the spine ends, alongside rubbing to the joints and bumping to the board corners. Internally, the text block remains generally firm, though the deckled edges are age-toned and dusty. Scattered foxing and spotting are present throughout, most prominently on the preliminary leaves and title page, which also exhibits significant offsetting. Crucially, the engraved portrait frontispiece of the author is lacking, which significantly downgrades the condition grade. Despite these physical flaws and the missing plate, the core text itself remains whole and highly legible.

Catalogue Note: This is the first edition of Edward Edwards's important continuation of Horace Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting in England. Edwards, a versatile British artist and former teacher of perspective at the Royal Academy, compiled this biographical reference guide to British-born painters, which was published posthumously in 1808.

While this edition was originally issued in boards, this particular copy is found in a later secondary Victorian cloth binding, demonstrating the text's enduring relevance decades after its initial printing. The front pastedown bears the armorial bookplate of Edward Bury, featuring a handsome engraved crest, adding an appealing touch of provenance to the volume.

Complete copies of this first edition are relatively uncommon on the open market; however, the absence of the frontispiece in this copy presents a more accessible acquisition for students of British art history.

Published posthumously in 1808, Anecdotes of Painters Who Have Resided or Been Born in England serves as an essential continuation of Horace Walpole’s foundational art historical text. Compiled by the esteemed Royal Academy associate Edward Edwards, the work offers invaluable, critical insight into the lives, techniques, and productions of British artists of the era. Rich with historical detail and professional commentary, this biographical dictionary remains a cornerstone text for researchers, collectors, and enthusiasts of eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century British art.

Book Condition: Fair

Book Authors: Edward Edwards

Book Publisher: Leigh and Sotheby, W.J. and J. Richardson, R. Faulder, T. Payne, and J. White

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: History

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 327

Book Publication Year: 1808

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.