Details
[MAGNA CARTA]. Magna Carta regis Johannis, XV Die Junii Regni XVIII A. D. London: John Whitaker, 1816. Large 2o, 14 leaves on vellum printed in gold, including: title, dedication to the Prince Regent, list of barons & 11 leaves of text, printed on rectos only and interleaved with heavy tissue guards. The whole has been illuminated in gold and colors by J. Harris, who has signed the verso of the final leaf: "This Magna Carta painted by J. Harris, Kensington." Bound in, following the text, is a 19th-century manuscript leaf listing the barons and their arms. Bound in full red morocco with wide floral and foliage borders, invisibly rebacked with original spine strip laid on, raised bands, gilt-tooled and lettered spine panels, inside gilt dentelles, marbled endpapers, gilt edges, joints lightly rubbed, by Wright; in a cloth folding box.
This is the first book executed by John Whittaker employing his newly invented process of printing in burnished gold letters, and one of a very few copies printed on vellum. It is universally acclaimed as one of the most beautiful and elegant presentations of the Magna Carta ever made. In the bibliographical section of his essay on the Magna Carta, R. Thomson says it is "exceedingly well calculated for shewing the beauty of the Golden Typography[and manifesting] at the same time a rich hue of antiquity combined with much delicacy of form and character "Whittaker left no record of his secret process for printing in gold, nor of the number of copies he printed of the Magna Charta which was rendered on several materials including: paper (the most common; there are 6 copies in the NUC), purple (and possibly cream) silk, natural or purple vellum. Moreover, no two copies appear to be identical; the number of leaves can vary, the illuminated copies on vellum bear variant designs, some copies include 2 or more portraits and miniatures, and those which were executed for royalty and dignitaries appear in lavish (even jeweled) bindings. Though bibliographers (including Brunet and Lowndes) mention Thomas Willement as the principal artist commissioned to paint and supervise the artistic adornments for the copies on vellum, this copy was executed by J. Harris, who has clearly signed the verso of the final leaf. Brunet III-1297: "Idition magnifique." Lowndes III-1450: "the most magnificent of all editions of Magna Carta." Thomson, Richard. An Historical Essay on the Magna Charta of King JohnLondon: 1829, pages 458-460.
This is the first book executed by John Whittaker employing his newly invented process of printing in burnished gold letters, and one of a very few copies printed on vellum. It is universally acclaimed as one of the most beautiful and elegant presentations of the Magna Carta ever made. In the bibliographical section of his essay on the Magna Carta, R. Thomson says it is "exceedingly well calculated for shewing the beauty of the Golden Typography[and manifesting] at the same time a rich hue of antiquity combined with much delicacy of form and character "Whittaker left no record of his secret process for printing in gold, nor of the number of copies he printed of the Magna Charta which was rendered on several materials including: paper (the most common; there are 6 copies in the NUC), purple (and possibly cream) silk, natural or purple vellum. Moreover, no two copies appear to be identical; the number of leaves can vary, the illuminated copies on vellum bear variant designs, some copies include 2 or more portraits and miniatures, and those which were executed for royalty and dignitaries appear in lavish (even jeweled) bindings. Though bibliographers (including Brunet and Lowndes) mention Thomas Willement as the principal artist commissioned to paint and supervise the artistic adornments for the copies on vellum, this copy was executed by J. Harris, who has clearly signed the verso of the final leaf. Brunet III-1297: "Idition magnifique." Lowndes III-1450: "the most magnificent of all editions of Magna Carta." Thomson, Richard. An Historical Essay on the Magna Charta of King JohnLondon: 1829, pages 458-460.