Finden's tableaux : the iris of prose, poetry, and art for 1840

First edition of this deluxe keepsake composed of Finden engravings and 12 texts on tinted vellum in prose and verse by Barrett, Mitford, John Hughes. A frontispiece and 12 large steel compositions in an octagon surrounded by vignettes engraved in line and printed on strong vellum. Drawings or paintings by James Brown, engraved by Finden and other English engravers in his circle.
Publisher's binding in full blue shagreen. Smooth spine decorated with a rich ornamental composition of foliage, vases... Boards decorated with a large central ornament of interlaced scrollwork, similar in the corners. Edges gilt. Yellow endpapers. Hard slipcase of blue and red marbled paper (rubbing). Small tear at foot. Headcaps rubbed. Rubbing to spine. Copy with impeccable paper.
Finden was a famous English engraver who illustrated numerous books under his celebrated name, on the navy or regions of the United Kingdom, costumes... The excellence of his technique brought steel engraving to the highest level. One can clearly see in this work the subtle gradations, depth and fineness of rendering. This keepsake is a beautiful testimony to romanticism in the decorative arts.