Portraits of the Nobility: A Series of Highly Finished Engravings

Near fine copy of the First Series of these charming portraits of the children of English aristocracy

Complere with 10 very fine steel engravings of chocolate-box Victoriana

Toddlers and teenagers in ringlets, satin and taffeta, both boys and girls in cute dresses.

One poem by Benjamin Disraeli, MP, who mourns the death of one of the subjects, Susannah Copley, at the tender age of 15.

The portraits by eminent artists such as Alfred Edward Chalon, John Bostock, and Daniel Maclise. The engravings by William Henry Mote, Henry Cook, H. Robinson and J. Thomson.

Supervised by Charles Heath, 1785-1848, British engraver, currency and stamp printer, publisher and illustrator.

Edited by Louisa Fairlie (1881-1843), writer and editor, wife of John Fairlie, niece of Lady Blessington (who contributes one poem).

The poems dedicated to the children by a variety of authors including Benjamin Disraeli MP (future Prime Minister), Lady Blessington (Irish novelist Marguerite Gardiner), Henry Lytton Bulwer (future MP), Lady Emmeline Stuart-Wortley, Captain Marryat, WB, LEL and Mrs Fairlie.

The subjects include:

Emily Blanche Charlotte, Rose Caroline and Emily Catherine Anne Somerset, daughters of Henry Somerset, 7th Duke of Beaufort.

Mary, daughter of George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle, later Mary Matilda Georgiana Labouchere, Lady Taunton.

Viscount Grey de Wilton and Elizabeth Grey Egerton, children of the Thomas Egerton, 2nd Earl of Wilton.

Frances Diana, daughter of Charles Manners-Sutton, 1st Viscount Canterbury.

Earl of Dalkeith (William Henry), Henry John and Walter Charles Scott Douglas, son of the 5th Duke of Buccleuch, 7th Duke of Queensberry.

Elizabeth Jane Somerville, daughter of Sir William Somerville, 1st Baron Athlumney.

Henrietta Louisa Priscilla and Geraldine Harriet Somerset, daughters of Henry Somerset, 7th Duke of Beaufort.

Augusta Georgina Frederica Fitzclarence, daughter of Lord Frederic Fitzclarence, illegitimate son of King William IV.

Susannah, Sarah Elizabeth and Sophia Copley, daughters of John Copley, 1st Baron Lyndhurst. Susannah on the left died at age 15 after this portrait was painted.

Mary Frances Elizabeth Stapleton, 17th Baroness le Despencer, aged 15. Later wife of Evelyn Boscawen, 6th Viscount Falmouth.

Alfred Edward Chalon, 1780-1860, was a Swiss-born British portraitist who painted portraits of the English aristocracy. In 1837 he painted a portrait of Queen Victoria, and late became Portrait Painter in Water Colour to Her Majesty.

In original blue cloth binding, gilt title on spine, gilt vase on front board, a few spots and nicks on the boards, manuscript note on endpaper "Sarah P. Pratt from her sister Anne Lyman, January 12th, 1839," a.e.g., text and plates in very clean and fresh condition with fine impressions of the delicate engravings.