The History of the Hampton Court Palace. Illustrated with Autotypes, Etchings, Engravings, Maps and Plans. In Three Volumes.

LAW, Ernest (Queen Victoria and King George).

Item Number: 59009

London: George Bell and Sons, 1885-91.

The dedication copy, from the library of Queen Victoria and King George. First edition. Thick octavos, 3 volumes. Bound in three quarters blue morocco, the spines with raised bands and gilt titles, all edges gilt. With a 3-page Autograph Letter Signed from the Author, dated July 1st, 1885, addressed to Sir Henry Ponsonby, Queen Victoria’s Private Secretary, Presenting the volumes to Queen Victoria – the books are “Dedicated by Special permission to Her Most Gracious Majesty THE QUEEN Who First Granted Free and Unrestricted Admission To All Her Subjects To View The Beautiful Home Of Her Ancestors At Hampton Court.” The Letter reads in full: Dear Sir Henry, I send you by this post a specially bound copy of my “History of Hampton Court Palace in Tudor Times” for presentation to the Queen, which I venture to hope Her Majesty may be graciously pleased to accept from me. – At the same time could you offer Her Majesty my most dutiful and humble thanks for her great kindness in allowing me the favour of dedicating the work to Her Majesty? Yours very sincerely, Ernest Law. P.S. If you have the specimen copy & proof sheets originally sent to you, to show the nature of the work, could you send them back to me? In addition, the endpapers of each volume bear the Royal Bookplates of King George the 5th, with the stylized GRV monogram and the Royal Crown above. In excellent condition with light rubbing and wear. From the library of Mr. Stanley Williams, former Superintendent of Buckingham Palace.