Beschreibung:

Magna Carta--Whittaker, John. MAGNA CARTA REGIS JOHANNIS XV. DIE JUNII ANNO REGNI XVII. A.D. MCCXV. JOHN WHITTAKER 1816[-17] folio (563 x 467mm.), 2 parts in one volume, printed, hand-painted and illuminated in colour and gold, one of a very small number of copies on vellum, 25 leaves (of slightly varying size), some of the text leaves mounted to size, interleaved with parchment leaves (with watermark 1831), 19 printed leaves in gothic or ornate fonts and 6 full-page watercolours, the printed leaves all rectos only, all heightened with gold; the printed leaves comprising text of the Magna Carta preceded by two title leaves (with armorial watercolour surrounds, including those of King John and dedication to HRH the Prince Regent (with Prince of Wales feathers above and symbols of the British crown below), the second part the Conventio inter Regem Johannem et Barones with two title leaves, both also with armorial surrounds (the first apparently showing the barons who forced King John to sign), all text leaves surrounded by watercolour drawings with armorial designs (with the arms of the barons)in the shape of scrolls, two leaves also with initials in gold, architectronic surround (two also with watercolour of the seal of King John , the six watercolour drawings including portraits of King John and the Prince Regent and of King John flanked by the bishops and barons, another of the bishops and barons with the earlier Charter of Liberties issued by Henry I in 1100, watermark on parchment leaf dated 1831, contemporary or near contemporary dark red morocco, elaborately tooled in gilt and blind, outer borders made up of fillets and roll-tools including flowers, oak leaves and acorns, upper cover with gilt central panel with wavy scrolls, flowers and text, lower cover with central royal crown, wreath and motto, all edges gilt, wide turn-ins with oak leaf border, yellow watered silk endpapers decorated in gilt, hinged brass lock by Mordan & co. (with two keys), early pencil notes on front endpaper on the cost of this copy ("...367£ with the added illustrations..."), the size of the edition ("...4 copies, or at most five executed...") and for whom produced (George IV, Louix XVIII of France etc), some occasional cockling and slight discolouration to the vellum leaves