[ George Allen, London publisher and associate of John Ruskin. ] Sale catalogue of 'Books and Pictures from the Estate of the Late Mr. George Allen', containing a large number of books and pictures by Ruskin.

Author: 
[ George Allen (1832-1907), London publisher, craftsman and engraver associated with John Ruskin [ Allen and Unwin ]
Publication details: 
'For Sale | May be seen at 156, Charing Cross Road | London | December 1908'.
£400.00
SKU: 20255

12 pp., 8vo. Modern marbled bds. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. This interesting item is of significance to Ruskin scholars, containing a whole page describing 24 drawings and engravings by him, as well as a number of interesting books from the library of a close associate. The item was previously bound by Rossetti in a volume with two, unrelated, others. It then passed into the collection of the art historian Rose Sketchley, whose sister C. J. Sketchley presented it to Fulham Public Libraries in 1949. It is scarce: no copy has been traced on either OCLC WorldCat or COPAC. It contains four pages of 'Books', with prices; and six pages of 'Pictures | Oil, Water-colour, and Pen and Pencil', with dimensions and prices. Three quarters of the books are Ruskin items, including a separate section of 'Privately Printed' items. The costliest item, at £63, is 'Architectural Engravings. (Dated 1710 to 1820.) 2 vols. 22” x 16½”, bound in old calf, containing over 652 engravings of the Cathedrals and Abbeys in England and Wales, collected by John Ruskin. These volumes, formerly in Ruskin's possession, were those from which he studied Architecture as a young man, and include some outline drawings by Pugin, Coney, and Ruskin, and remarks in the handwriting of the latter'. The first item in the list, at £25, is 'RUSKIN. The Works Series. | 11 vols.in purple calf, First Edition, each volume inscribed in Ruskin's Handwriting with slight variation in each volume. “George Allen.” “With John Ruskin's kind and grateful regards;” or, “With the Author's affectionate regards,” etc.' Another interesting item, at £25, is 'Examples of the Architecture of Venice. | First Edition, with India proofs, published in 1851 (one of 50 copies). With etchings and progress proofs of several of the plates, in addition to those originally included. Fully bound in levant morocco, gilt edges, by Chivers, tooled with the design from the Door Heads in Plate XI. A unique copy'. The pictures are listed under author, from 'Adams', 'Alexander Francesca' and 'Baker, Blanche' to 'Wood, E. Stewart', 'Wright, R. H.' and 'Yates, Fred'. A whole page is devoted to descriptions of 22 drawings (pen, pencil, water-colour, black and white, wash) and two engravings by Ruskin. The first (9 x 4½, £21) is 'The Law of Evanescence. Black and White. Reproduced in “Modern Painters,” Vol. IV. Each of the four subjects of this drawing is signed by Ruskin. It is also inscribed “Study for plate in 'Modern Painters.' Signed J. R., Brantwood, 1879”'. The list also includes work by Sara Coleridge, Birket Foster, Kate Greenaway and Samuel Prout. Also present (11¼ x 8½, £73 10s 0d) is 'TURNER, J. M. W. – | Study of Three Mackerel. Inscribed “J. M. W. T. fast sketch on his kitchen dresser. Bought of Mrs. Booth, J. Ruskin, Brantwood, 1880.” Exhibited in Ruskin's Turner Exhibition, Bond Street, 1878'. The list of pictures is followed by short lists of 'Large Engravings after Turner' and 'Several Engravings by Albert Dürer'.