Imitations of Original Drawings by Hans Holbein. 1792

HOLBEIN, Hans, the younger (1497/8–1543) – CHAMBERLAINE, John (1745-1812; editor) and Edmund LODGE (1756-1839), Imitations of Original Drawings by Hans Holbein in the Collection of His Majesty, for the Portraits of Illustrious Persons of the Court of Henry VIII. With Biographical Tracts. London: 1792 [watermark dates from 1794-1824].

19th-century facsimile copies of the wonderful Holbein plates published by Chamberlaine, Keeper of George III's drawings. The originals enjoyed varying fortunes until they were rediscovered by Queen Caroline in a bureau of her closet at Kensington Palace, and finally copied and published under the auspices of Chamberlaine. Edmund Lodge provided the biographical notices. Abbey Life 205.

Folio (537 x 415mm). 81 watercolours, copying the prints found in the original publication by F. Bartolozzi, C. Metz, and C. Knight after Holbein, all mounted (lacking printed biographical text for Sir Thomas Elyot, this replaced by incomplete ink manuscript facsimile on Whatman paper watermarked 1824, lacking the portraits of Henry and Charles Brandon, Dukes of Suffolk, tear to pl. 73 slight affecting image, scattered spotting or light staining, some plates with marks from mounting adhesive, others becoming loose). 19th-century russia (rebacked, sides scraped and extremities rubbed). Sold as a collection of 19th-century watercolour reproductions, not subject to return.

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