A Complete View of the Dress and Habits of the People of England: from the Establishment of the Saxons in Britain to the Present Time

Very good + copy of the second edition (first with hand-coloured lithographic plates) of Strutt's monumental work on the costume of England, first published with 143 copperplate engravings in 1796.

The classic study of English costume illustrated with numerous examples from illuminated manuscripts held in the British Library, the Bodleian, and Harleian collections. Complete with 153 hand-colored plates, 10 more than the first edition, of people, costumes, armour, seals, and everyday objects from the time of the Saxons to the end of the 17th century.

With 2 hand-coloured frontispieces, 8 hand-coloured plates of Egyptian, Greek and Roman costumes in the introduction, and 143 hand-coloured lithographic plates of English costume.

New improved edition with critical and explanatory notes by James Robinson Planche, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

Joseph Strutt (1749-1802) was an English engraver, artist, antiquary and writer famous for his work on the history of English costume and sports. Starting with The Regal and Ecclesiastical Antiquities of England (1773), he followed up with The Manners, Customs, Arms, Habits, &c., of the Inhabitants of England (1774), Chronicle of England (1777), and The Dress and Habits of the People of England (1796). His last and most popular book was The Sports and Pastimes of the People of England (1801).

According to the DNB, "Although the amount of Strutt's work as an engraver is small, it is of exceptional merit and is still highly esteemed. In the study of those branches of archaeology which he followed he was a pioneer."

Publisher's half brown morocco, gilt title on rebacked spine, marbled boards, a.e.g., interior very good with spectacular lithographed plates with bright hand colour, many embellished with gold leaf.