Cleopatra: Being an Account of the Fall and Vengeance of Harmachis, The Royal Egyptian, As Set Forth By His Own Hand.
First edition of H. Rider Haggard's Cleopatra; Inscribed by Haggard in the Year of Publication
Cleopatra: Being an Account of the Fall and Vengeance of Harmachis, The Royal Egyptian, As Set Forth By His Own Hand.
HAGGARD, H. Rider.
Item Number: 118946
London: Longmans, Green, and Co, 1889.
Rare first edition of this well-known classic. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece, tissue guard, patterned endpapers, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page in the year of publication, “To Edward Halue from H. Rider Haggard 25 June, 1889.” In near fine condition with a touch of shelfwear.
The first known example of a disappearing fore-edge painting (where the painting is not visible when the book is closed) dates back to 1649. Around 1750, the subject matter of fore-edge paintings changed from simply decorative or heraldic designs to landscapes, portraits and religious scenes, usually painted in full color. The technique was popularized in the 18th century by John Brindley (1732-1756), publisher and bookbinder to the Prince of Wales and Edwards of Halifax, a distinguished family of bookbinders and booksellers. The majority of extant examples of fore-edge paintings date to the late 19th and early 20th century on reproductions of books originally published in the early 19th century, including the present volume.
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