[ Armorial bookplate of Charles John Shoppee in 'The Handwriting of the Kings & Queens of England by W. J. Hardy, F.S.A. Author of "Book Plates," etc. With photogravures and Facsimiles of Signatures and Historical Documents'.

176pp., 4to. With four photogravure plates and numerous excellent facsimiles in text. A splendid production in red cloth gilt, with tissue guards to the plates and all edges gilt. In good very good condition, lightly aged and worn. Shoppee's bookplate, roughly 14.5 x 11.5 cm, and printed in black and red, shows the strong influence of the Victorian Gothic Revival, with a 7 x 5.5 cm fussy central design showing a shield and helmet on a tiled floor, surrounded by drapery, with a mailed fist holding an anchor projecting from the top of the helmet, a monogram at bottom left and the word 'SPE' at bottom right. Around the design, in red gothic letters is the following 'Put on the whole Armour of God'. Beneath the design, in black ink with red initials is 'Charles John Shoppe, | Citizen and Armourer | of London.' There is another simpler bookplate of Shoppee's, printed entirely in red. The bookplate is in fair condition, with slight offsetting from the leaded black endpapers.