[LLOYD, David]

Eikon basilike [Greek transliterated]

      London, for H. Brome, and H. Marsh, or, the true Pourtraiture of his Sacred Majestie Charls the II. In Three Books. Beginning from his Birth 1630, unto this present year, 1660. Wherein is interwoven a Compleat History of the High-born Dukes of York and Glocester. By R. F. Esq; an Eye-witness. Small 8vo (158 × 104 mm), in 3 parts. Finely bound at the end of the eighteenth century in straight-grained red morocco by Kalthoeber (with his blue label on the endleaf), spine lettered in two panels and with a gilt circle in other other panels, compartments further decorated in blind, gilt rules either side of raised bands, place and date in gilt at foot; covers with outer border in blind scrollwork with gilt rules either side, floral tools and dots gilt at the corners, goatskin inner joints and turn-ins with double gilt rules all round, plain blue endpapers, gilt edges. Engraved frontispiece incorporating four portraits, neatly restored at inner margin. Each part has separate title page: pt. 2 printed by John Brudenell, for Henry Brome and Henry Marsh, 1660; pt. 3, The restauration of his sacred Majesty Charles the II ... Printed by Peter Lillicrap, for Henry Broom, and Henry Marsh, 1660. A little rubbed, occasional light waterstaining at head, an excellent copy. First Edition, rare, published in the year of the Restoration, by the fervent Royalist and biographer David Lloyd (1635–1692), its title echoing that of the more famous book attributed to Charles I. The binder of this copy, Christian Kalthoeber, was perhaps the finest craftsman of the late eighteenth century. One of the vast influx of German binders to London, he worked first for Baumgarten, and in 1782 succeeded him. He was considered during his day to be the finest binder in the world. Madan, New Bibl. of the Eikon basilike, 134; Thomason, E.1922[2]; Wing L2640 (locating LT, O; CH, MH).