Initials and Miniatures of the IXth, Xth, and XIth Centuries from Mozarabic Manuscripts of Santo Domingo de Silos in the British Museum

New York: [Printed by the De Vinne Press], 1904. First and Limited Edition. Hardcover. Very good. Elephant folio size, one of 350 copies (unnumbered), presentation copy, inscribed in 1923 by Archer M. Huntington. Archer M[ilton] Huntington (1870-1955) was a lifelong friend of the arts and philanthropist; known for his scholarly works in the field of Hispanic Studies, he founded The Hispanic Society of America in New York City; his cousin, Henry E. Huntington, founded the renowned Huntington Library in California.

This volume was presented by the author in 1923 to Elijah Clarence Hills (1867-1932), a Professor in Florida and Colorado and a prolific author of Spanish-related books. The inscription is on Mr. Huntington's calling card, with "Mr." being crossed out, as follows: "To my friend E.C. Hills / with the high regard & / admiration of (printed name, Archer Huntington) / 1923". The calling card is tipped onto the front pastedown directly beneath Mr. Hills' elegant bookplate.

This work was published to preserve the illuminated decorations and initials from the 9th through 11th centuries from manuscripts in the monastery of Silos, near Castile, which over many centuries and the ravages of many wars were at risk of being forever lost. As Mr. Huntington says in the Introduction: "The rarity alone of documents dating, as these do, from the ninth to the eleventh century renders them of the greatest interest; but where, in addition, such remarkable palaeographical and archaeological details are found, and such peculiarity in the application of design to the decoration of books, they become worthy of extended study and fit subjects for reproduction".

___DESCRIPTION: Bound in tan cloth with the front board richly decorated as an illuminated manuscript in rust and green, letters outlined in black, green lettering on the spine, top edge gilt, plain endpapers, bookplate and author's inscription tipped onto front pastedown as referred to above, title page with two decorative initial capitals, volume opens with a four-page Introduction by Mr. Huntington, followed by a 3-page list of the Manuscripts used, followed by the illustrations which are printed on the recto only of each page with their number on the opposite page, printed on verso only, two tissue guards (we presume original with the rest having been lost); Elephant Folio in size (approximately 17" tall), unpaginated with approximately 100 leaves; limited edition of 350 copies, unnumbered, author's inscription as set forth above.

___CONDITION: Overall very good plus, with a strong, square text block, solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and other than the prior owner bookplate and authorial inscription, it is entirely free of prior owner markings. There is some old dampstaining and soiling to the boards, we had a professional restorer do some minor restoration to the head and tail of the spine and the corners, which are all now sturdy (name available upon request).

___POSTAGE: Please note that this is an extremely large and heavy volume, therefore additional postage will apply. We are happy to ship at cost to both domestic and international customers, please inquire for details.

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