Beautifully Bound Book of Stories from Homer by Alfred Church with 24 Illustrations from Flaxman’s Designs.

Alfred John Church (1829 – 1912) was an English classical scholar. He was born in London and educated at King's College, London and Lincoln College, Oxford. He took holy orders and was an assistant-master at Merchant Taylors' School from 1857-70. He subsequently served as headmaster of Henley-on-Thames Royal Grammar School from 1870–73, and then of King Ed-ward VI School, Retford from 1873-80. From 1880 until 1888 he was professor of Latin at University College, London. Church wrote numerous stories in English re-telling classical tales and legends as well as writing much Latin and English verse.

A 1st edition published in 1878 by Seeley, Jackson & Halliday and complete in the one volume. Finely bound in tree calf with gilt decoration to the board edges, board margins and elaborately gilt decorated spine arranged in 6 compartments by 5 raised bands. Marbled end papers and page edges. The preface advises:- the illustrations are some of Flaxman’s famous designs which they have ventured to colour, hoping that by so doing they would render them more attractive, without transgressing any rule of art. The style of the outlines was suggested by the Etruscan vase painting, and Flaxman himself did some work of a similar kind for Wedgwood. Most of the vase paintings were in black and red but there is authority for the employment of the buff tint used. Condition: Externally the top board is a little open, the corners and a small area of the bottom of the base board have light bumping and there is a little loss to the gilding which, otherwise, remains bright and fresh. There is scuffing to the surface of the boards. Internally some foxing to the preliminary and terminal pages, an occasional mark and light bumping to the very tip of the top corners of some pages. Small split to part of the inner only of the top hinge.

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