Cosway-Style Fine Binding : Lewis, The Navy of Britain : Foyle's Copy

LEWIS, Michael : The Navy of Britain 

Cosway-style fine binding with unique provenance

London; George Allen and Unwin, 1948. First Edition. 8vo., half-title, title, colour frontispiece with tissue-guard, 560p, profusely illustrated throughout with numerous monochrome illustrations and diagrams, including one folding plate. 

Finely bound in a later Cosway-style full navy full morocco by Bayntun Riviere in Bath with their binder’s signature to the front turn-in, the upper cover with inset hand-coloured oval portrait (on vellum) of Admiral Hood (1724-1816) under glass, double rule gilt border to covers, foliate spray corner pieces, spine separated into compartments by five raised bands and finished in gilt, lettered and decorated in gilt, all edges gilt, turn-ins with gilt fillets, moire silk endpapers, red morocco gilt bookplate of W. A. Foyle, Beeleigh Abbey to front pastedown. 

PROVENANCE
This copy has a notable provenance having been owned by William Foyle (1883-1963), who co-founded the famous Foyles bookshop with his brother Gilbert, on Charing Cross Road in London. In 1943 William Foyle acquired the former medieval monastery of Beeleigh Abbey near Maldon in Essex, and put together one of the world’s greatest private book collections. Following William Foyle’s passing in 1963, the abbey and the extensive book collection were inherited by his daughter Christina. 

Christina left her estate to the Foyle Foundation, and after she died  in 1999, the book collection was auctioned by Christies in July 2000, where it achieved a world record sales total. Unbeknown to the public, in a private agreement with Christies prior to the sale, many books from the collection were acquired by William’s grandson Christopher, the nephew of Christina. Christopher also bought back the abbey and Foyles bookshop from the Foyle Foundation charity trustees at market value. 

Christopher worked tirelessly to rejuvenate the Foyle’s bookshop and sold the business to Waterstones in 2018. Christopher and his wife Catherine additionally undertook significant restoration of Beeleigh Abbey, and added greatly to the book collection. Christopher received an OBE for services to publishing, aviation and charity, and served as Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Essex. Christopher passed away in August 2022 at the age of 79.

CONDITION
In very fine condition with no damage. Binding as good as the day it was bound. All contents present and pages fine throughout. A stunning binding in fine condition.

(GC2)