Lives Of The Queens Of England, From The Norman Conquest (With Two Autograph Letters, Signed. Strickland, Agnes (And Elizabeth).

London: Henry Colburn, 1842-48. Twelve volumes, complete. Second edition (printing?) of volumes 1-3, first edition of volumes 4-12. Beautifully bound (Tout Binders) in later 19th century green half-calf, marbled boards, lettered in gilt. Top edges gilt, ribbon markers (some detached). Lovely bookplate of Marie Hunt Story in each volume – her father-in-law was sculptor William Wetmore Story, her husband Marion Story was a miniature painter and Wall Streeter. Frontis and one plate in each volume; Henry Colburn was well known for the quality of the illustrations in his books. "Lives of the Queens. was very successful and popular". Agnes' sister, Elizabeth, collaborated in the writing but, "having an invincible objection to publicity", her name did not appear on the title page (Elizabeth Lee in the DNB). Spine leather sunned to a beautiful brown, gilt lettering is lovely. Some rubbing to leather and boards. A Very Good set. With: Agnes Strickland autograph letter, signed, Oct. 13, 1849, "Dear Madam.". One sheet folded to make four pages, all are used, about 200 words. Miss Strickland "shall have much pleasure if the designs in 'Lives of the Queens of England' " can be issued as needlework projects. However, she suggests that Henry Colburn should be consulted, he being "the proprietor of the plates". Folded once for mailing, a Fine letter. With: Autograph letter, signed, by Elizabeth Strickland. Dated Telford, May 21, 1864, responding to a friend, "Mrs. May", congratulating her on her marriage and new baby. She loves babies, but only from 4 months old until they turn 3 in boys and 5 in girls, "the angelic nature of babyhood lasting two years longer in the bettermost creature." She doesn’t like writing letters, especially after "the mind is worn with proofs and ms’s." Autographs are a "more than usual torment how can I have an autograph when I have not committed my name to the public? Her sister Agnes is in negotiations for a new, cheap edition of the Queens of England. "We must not ask her for the letters you want I can clip some beginnings and endings from her almost daily letters to me which are by mutual agreement all destroyed once the memorandums they contain are acted upon .the correspondence though often delightful is not for the world’s pen". She then talks at length about several historical Scandinavian monarchs. Two conjugate leaves, very closely written, about 600 words. For the set and two letters: