Holbein’s Dance of Death, 1803, with fore-edge-painting

Hans Holbein:

The dances of death, through the various stages of human life: wherein the capriciousness of that tyrant is exhibited: in forty-six copper-plates; done from the original designs, which were cut in wood, and afterwards painted, by John Holbein, in the town house of Basil. To wich are prefixed, descriptions of each plate in French and English, with the scripture text from which the designs were taken. Etched by D. Deuchar.

London, W. Smith and Co, 1803. 4to. (19,5 x 15,5 cms.) [4] + 48 pp. + engraved frontispiece + engraved title in French + engraved portrait + 47 engraved plates.

Somewhat worn contemporary straight-grained morocco, richly tooled in gilt and blind, all edges gilt, inner dentelles. Hinges starting, engraved frontispiece & title a little foxed, neat old monogram and annotation to title, ”purchas’d at Fenthill sale”, a bookplate removed and replaced with recent printed label of ”John Fowler”.

With fore-edge painting showing steamships in front of a large white structure, possibly Whitehall.

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