50 Fine Illustrated Books - 2017. [ Shapero Rare Books, bookseller's catalogue, 2017 ]

Shapero Rare Books, London, bookseller's catalogue, 2017. Laminated illustrated wrappers, 4to,. 147 pp, colour ills. 50 items. Entries have notes and bibliographical references. From the introduction - "The breadth of subject matter is ..impressive, ranging from fine topographical works such as Nattes Views of Bath (item 35), and a complete deluxe issue of Roberts' Holy Land & Egypt (item 34), through to great natural history books including Merian's Insects of Surinam (item 32) and Redoute's Choix des plus belles Fleurs (item 41) - so much more accessible than his Roses or Lillies, by way of anatomy in the form of Gautier-d'Agoty (item 22); Windmill architecture (item 1), and the incomparable complete set of Cochin's engravings depicting the victories of the Chinese emperor K'ien Lung (item 14). Aside from their historical importance, these represent the pinnacle of eighteenth century copper engraving with remarkable detail and tonal range. The twentieth century is represented by Severini (item 47), and the cover item, Matisse's jazz (item 31), widely regarded as the finest illustrated book of the century. Our specialty areas of Russian books and Judaica are also well represented, notably the fine Hebrew manuscript prayer book (item 26). Upper fore-edge corners bumped, otherwise Very Good.