Common Prayer, 1863 William Pickering Edition, Fine Binding

The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church according to the use of the United Church of England and Ireland, Together with the Psalter or Psalms of David, pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches.

Published 1853 by William Pickering, London. Printed by C. Whittingham, Tooks Court, Chancery Lane.

A second title page is present at the begining of The Order for Morning Prayer. Detailing that the book is Ornamented with wood cuts from designs of Albert Durer, Hans Holbein, and others. In imitation of Queen Elizabeth's book of Christian Prayer. Printed for William Pickering, and now first published by William Allan, 13, Paternoster Row. 1855. 

Binding by Webb & Hunt, Liverpool.

The title page is printed in red and black within woodcut border, representing the Tree of Jesse. Portrait of Queen Elizabeth on verso of title. The text of every page is surrounded with engraved on wood by Mary Byfield. Mary Byfield worked for the Chiswick Press nearly her entire life, and her contributions played a large part in the looks of many of the smaller Pickering editions. For this volume she cut over 100 blocks, mostly after the designs by Holbein, Durer, Tory and others, but including her contemporary Charlotte Whittingham, although it is next to impossible to tell which are the old designs, and which the new. "The cuts harmonize perfectly with the type (which is Caslon) and this small tome is a triumph of printing as well as of illustration and typography." (McLean; Victorian Book Design).

Bound in full contemporary vellum, gilt tooling, red label, marbled endpapers, gilt gauffered page edges.

CONDITION:

The book measures 13cm x 18cm.

Vellum binding significantly discoloured, marked and rubbed. The spine is darkened moreso than the boards. Red and gilt title label chipped with loss on the edges. Gilt tooling worn away in parts. Binding has an overall grubby appearance. Joints holding well, slight cracking developing at either side of the foot by about 1cm, not affecting binding strength. 

Hinges good, no cracking of the marbled endpapers. The endpapers are fading around the outer edge, this also affects the gilt decorated board edges, the top edge in particular. Gilt gauffered page edges in an attractive repeating design, top edge soiled and darkened compared to other brighter edges. Majority of text block age toned/yellowed. Noticeable foxing of the first and last few pages. First few pages have a small water stain on bottom margin, not affecting text. Contents is complete, no loose or missing pages. Binders stamp on verso flyleaf top edge. Remnants of three green ribbon markers, only one remains and that is completely detached.

Overall the book remains in good reading condition. The condition issues are mostly cosmetic, the grubby state of the vellum binding most notable. A fasinating edition, with excellent decorated borders, and attractive gauffered page edges. It would have been quite the sight in its early years!

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