Old England: A Pictorial Museum Of Regal, Ecclesiastical, Baronial, Municipal, And Popular Antiquities. 2 Volumes

London: Charles Knight And co., [Printed by William Clowes and Sons], 1845 [Vol. II undated]., 1845. folio. pp. 1 p.l., 392; vi, 386. text in double columns. 24 colour plates. c2500 wood engravings in the text. 19th century gilt-paneled black calf by R.J.Major, Weymouth with ticket (some chipping to lower spines, some scattered foxing - generally light to moderate & mainly affecting plates, marginal dampstains to title & several plates, a few inconsequential marginal tears). First Edition. "Considered Knight's most important work in the field of color printing, this popular publication was originally issued in ninety-six parts during 1844 and 1845. It contains twenty-four colour plates and nearly 2500 wood engravings illustrative of every sort of English antiquity. Very large numbers of this book seem to have been produced, at least when compared to a work like Baxter's Pictorial Album, and thus Knight is credited with being the first publisher to make color illustrations available to a mass audience.". (Friedman) "a unique and wonderful publication." (Hardie) Burch, Colour Printing and Colour Printers, pp. 143-44. Friedman, Color Printing in England 1486-1870, 58. Hardie, English Coloured Books, p. 287.. F. Hardcover.