[Fine Binding | Henry Sotheran | Extra Illustrated] Charles I

Skelton, Sir John. Charles I. London, [et al]: Goupil & Co., 1898. The volume was published with a color engraved portrait frontispiece and 24 tissue-guarded engraved plates, and it has been expanded to 2 volumes with the addition of 150 illustrations, inlaid to size, throughout the text. Included are primarily engravings and mezzotints from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries (a few examples mentioned below). A second title page--noting the extra illustrations--has been added to both volumes.

Examples of illustrations
Frontispiece of volume I: engraving of Charles I on horseback by Cornelis van Dalen. Opp. p. 28: dual page engraving of the Royal Palace of Hampton Court. Opp. p. 50: portrait of Charles II Wenceslaus Hollar (after van Dyck). Opp. p. 74: mezzotint of John Coke (Secretary of State to Charles I) by George White. Ahead of p. 84: mezzotint of Oliver Cromwell by Charles Turner (after William Faithorne), proof impression. 

Bound in full navy blue morocco (stamp signed by Sotheran's at the top of the rear flyleaf, likely commissioned by them) with the front and rear of both volumes featuring a large central ornament of inlaid blue, yellow, white and red, and incorporating the coat of arms of Charles I and Saint George's Cross. Above the crest is the motto "JUSTITIA ET VERITAS" on a gilt scroll, lettered and tooled by hand. Below is a diapered field of thistles, with two large Tudor roses inlaid in bright red, and two large crowns on either side, inlaid in burgundy and gold. At the bottom of the covers reads "1600 CHARLES I 1649", also on a scroll and hand-lettered. Five bands to spine, with title and author to second and fourth compartments, and alternating inlaid Tudor roses and crowns, accented with small gilt fleur-de-lis and lion tools at the corners, to the remaining four compartments. Wide turn-ins, separated into rectangular and square compartments all the way around, with a pattern of crowns in the corners, Tudor roses at the center of the sides and top/bottom, and small ornaments of thistles between. Bright red watered silk endpapers. Top edge gilt.

Front hinge of volume I professionally repaired with Japanese tissue, along with the top and bottom 2-3"of the rear hinge. Closed & repaired cracks to rear hinge of volume II. Rubbing to edges, wear to spine tips, corners bumped and rubbed. 

An incredible example of turn-of-the-century bookmaking; pictured in the November-December 1902 issue of the The Book-Lover.