HAND BOOK OF MEDIAEVAL ALPHABETS AND DEVICES, H. Shaw, 1st/1st 1853 Illustrated

The boards and binding are solid and tight save for some light shelf-wear and a bookplate on the inside front board. The pages are generally clean save for some sporadic light foxing on some of the book pages, mainly on the title page. The engravings are clean save for a spot or two of foxing on a few of the plates near the border. Six of the engraving plates have a light damp stain on top corner near the spine. The last engraving has partial page separation from the spine and damp stain on both inside corners. Small folio with embossed blue boards. Profusely illustrated "As the object of this publication is to offer to the architect, the decorator, and the student of ornamental design, such a series of examples of alphabets, numerals, and devices, in use during the middle ages, as ,may be found practically useful ... The greater number of our specimens having been taken from illuminated MSS. a slight sketch of the origin and progress of that beautiful art ... " -from the Preface. A scarce first edition find from 1853!