A magnificently extra-illustrated copy of this privately printed biography of Sir Walter Ralegh (also Raleigh, 1554-1618), Elizabethan statesman and explorer.
The additionally inserted leaves nearly treble the original text and constitute a remarkable act of grangerisation. The most notable insertions are a seemingly unrecorded early tobacco trade card, titled “Sir Walter Raleigh & his Man The Best Tobacco Under the Sun”. This late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth advertisement illustrates the apocryphal moment of Ralegh smoking in his library after his return from the Americas with a taste for tobacco, and his servant in the act of dousing with water his master who he thought must be on fire. There is a fine watercolour portrait attributed to the enamelist and miniaturist painter Henry Bone. There are three 16th and 17th century documents signed by Ralegh’s compatriots in the Spanish Armada defeat, including Naval commander Ferdinando Gorges, Vice-Admiral Edmund Sheffield, 1st Earl of Mulgrave, Oliver St John 3rd Baron Bletso and Thomas Sackville Baron Buckhurst.
Of the 40 additional prints of Sir Walter Ralegh, we see a veritable census of his image between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. Many of the portraits originated as frontispieces to his published works, including several editions of The Historie of the World (1614, 1677 & 1708), and Sir Walter Raleighs Instructions to his Sonne (1692). The extent of the collection is perhaps rivalled only by the British Museum. Other supplementary images include engravings of Queen Elizabeth I, Humphrey Gilbert, and Sir Francis Drake including an original watercolour by engraver Edward Harding. A number of the additional engravings depicting Ralegh’s circle are supplied from Henry Holland’s Heroologia Anglica (1620) and are engraved by Willem and Magdalena van de Passe.
The act of extra-illustration through scrapbooking, popularised between 1770 and 1830, came to be known as “grangerisation”. This “term derives from the Revd James Granger (1723-76), whose Biographical History of England (1769) was published without illustrations, but with the suggestion that the purchaser should have his copy interleaved by the binder so that portraits could be added at will” (Suarez & Woudhuysen, 763). A controversial practice, whilst encouraging the compiler to create discreet archives within their libraries, the impulse to destroy other printed texts for the enrichment of the grangerised volume provoked Holbrook Jackson, in his Anatomy of Bibliomania (1930), to call it “a singularly perverted idea”.
Sir Walter Ralegh’s rise and demise in his own lifetime speaks both to the volatility of the Elizabethan period and the largeness of his own character. He charted a course from court favourite to imprisoned traitor, and was ultimately executed during the reign of James I. His voyages to the Americas were chronicled with the flamboyance of an adventurer, and the associated celebrity he gained upon his return enabled him to popularise the recreational (and medicinal) use of tobacco smoking in European society. The biographical sketch around which this volume is compiled was privately printed in Boston in 1862, having previously been prepared as an article in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register.
Brushfield, T.N. Bibliography of Sir Walter Raleigh. 2nd ed. (Exeter, 1908), p.87; Suarez, M. & Woudhuysen (H.R.) ed. The Oxford Companion to the Book. Vol 2. (OUP, 2010).
A full list of the extra-illustrations can be found below:
1. Miniature painting attributed to Henry Bone (1755-1834) 155 by 120mm. Window mounted into ffep with gilt ruled border. Remnant stub of a silk curtain. Three quarters portrait of Ralegh in hat and ruff executed in watercolour on board.
2. “Sir Walter Raleigh & his Man The Best Tobacco Under the Sun” engraved trade card. 80 by 65mm. The image depicting Ralegh smoking in his library, a servant in the act of dashing him with water in order to douse the flames, with an ornamental border and titles, and a sun motif above. This engraving appears to be after an illustration in editions of William Darton’s Little Truths Better than Great Fables, first published in London in 1788, and then in Philadelphia in 1789. We have been able to trace no other examples of this card.
3. F.W.P. “Sir Walter Ralegh. From the original picture in the possession of James J. Gibson Craig Esq.” Fine pencil and watercolour sketch after William Segar’s 1598 portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh, now in the National Gallery of Ireland. This is an extra-illustration of the printed title-page of Drake’s publication.
4. F.W.P. Watercolour and pencil extra-illustrated title-page, with finely painted vignette of “Birthplace of Sir Walter Ralegh”.
5. AUDINOT (Philip). Engraved and etched three-quarter length portrait after George Vertue. Before letters. N.p., n.d. [1803].
6. FRY (William Thomas). Stipple, engraving and etched three-quarter length portrait after Federico Zuccaro. 245 by 205mm. Before Letters [London, Lackington, 1818].
7. PYE (Charles). Sir Walter Raleigh. After a painting by Sir Antonio Moore. Engraving, head and shoulders portrait. 180 by 127mm. Proof. London, Published for the Proprietor, March, 1822.
8. COOPER (R.). Sir Walter Raleigh. Stipple engraving, head and shoulders portrait. 190 x 120mm. Before letters. [London, Charles Baldwyn, c.1839].
9. ADLARD (H). Sir Walter Ralegh. Stipple engraving, head and shoulders portrait after George Vertue. 150 by 100mm. London, Welton & Jarvis, March 1st 1821.
10. COOPER (R.). Sir Walter Raleigh. Stipple engraving, head and shoulders portrait. 100 by 70mm. [London, Charles Baldwyn, c.1839].
11. COOPER (R.) Sir Walter Ralegh […] after Houbraken. Stipple engraving. 155 by 102mm. [n.p., n.d.]
12. [COOPER (R).] Proof without letters? 192 by 115mm. [n.p., n.d.]
13. FITLER (J.). Sir Walter Raleigh. From an original picture on the collection of His Grace the Duke of Dorset. Engraving. 200 by 135mm. London, W. Walker, March 1, 1821.
14. ROBINSON (H.). Sir Walter Raleigh. OB. 1618. From the Original of Zucchero, in the Collection of the most Noble the Marquis of Bath. Engraving. 240 by 180mm. London, Harding & Lepard, Jan 1829.
15. PICART (C). Sir Walter Raleigh. OB. 1618. From the Original of Zucchero, in the Collection of the most Noble the Marquis of Bath. Engraving. 250 by 180mm. London, Harding & Lepard, Jan 1823.
16. STALKER. Sir Walter Raleigh. Engraved head and shoulders portrait. 250 by 185mm. London, I. Stockdale, 30th July 1812.
17. [after HOUBRAKEN]. Sr. W. Ralegh. Head and shoulders portrait, stipple engraving. 170 by 120mm. [n.p., n.d.]
18. [WOODBURNS (Samuel). Sir Walter Raleigh..] Copperplate engraving after Thomas de Leu. Head and shoulders portrait of Raleigh with a vignette of the English fleet at the capture of Cadiz below. 185 by 165mm. [Samuel Woodburn’s Gallery of Rare Portraits Consisting of Original Plates, London, George Jones, 1816].
19. [ANON]. Sir Walter Raleigh. Line engraved head and shoulders portrait with coat of arms and facsimile signature beneath. 230 by 150mm. [n.p., n.d.].
20. [LACY (T.H.).] Engand - Sir Walter Raleigh - 1550. Full length lithograph from Lacy’s Dramatic Costumes. Plate 168. Trimmed with loss of titles. 185 by 130mm. [London, Lacy, 1865].
21. BLOOD (Thomas). Sir Walter Raleigh. Bust portrait stipple engraving. 205 by 180mm. Plymouth, Rees & Curtis, Dec 5th 1809.
22. [ANON]. Sr. Walter Raleigh. Engraved circular vignette bust. 67 by 54mm. [n.p, n.d.].
23. AUDINET (Philip). Sir Walter Rawleigh. Engraved oval bust portrait, letterpress titles. From Biographical Magazine. 85 by 70mm. n.p., Harrison & Co. April 1794.
24. [ANON]. Sr. Walter Raleigh. Engraved oval bust portrait. 125 by 105mm. [n.p., n.d.].
25. [ANON]. Sir Walter Raleigh. Engraved bust portrait in an oval laurel cartouche. [n.p., n.d.]
26. [ANON]. Line engraved head and shoulders portrait. Titles beneath “Brave Raleigh’s outward figure heere you finde: / But the great worth and sharpnesse of his minde / No tablet can containe; no paynter’s skill / Expresse; seeke that from his owne matchlesse quilt.” 100 by 70mm. [frontispiece to Sir Walter Raleighs Instructions to his Sonne: and to Posteritie. The Second Edition. London, Benjamin Fisher, 1632].
27. [PASSE (Simon de) after]. Line engraved head and shoulders portrait. Titled beneath “The true and lively portraiture of the honourable and learned Knight Sr Walter Ralegh”. 125 by 75mm. [n.p., n.d., c.1650].
28. HARDING (E). pub. Sr. Walter Raleigh. Bust portrait in an oval cartouche, stipple engraving. 190 by 120mm. London, E. Harding, April, 1802.
29. [ANON] Sr. Walter Ralegh. Engraved bust portrait in a circular cartouche. 140 by 110mm. [n.p., n.d.]
30. [PASSE (Simon de) after]. Engraved bust portrait in an ornamental oval cartouche. Titled beneath “Sr Walter Ralegh Kt. Ob: 1618 Ætat: 66.” 135 by 80mm. [n.p., n.d.]
31. VAUGHAN (Ro). Engraved head and shoulders portrait after de Passe, titled beneath: “The true and lively Portraiture of the Ho.ble and learned Knight Sr Walter Ralegh.” 130 by 175mm. [frontispiece to his Judicious and Select Essayes, London, Humphrey Moseley, 1650].
32. VAN HOVE (F.H.). Copper engraving three quarters portrait. Titled: “The true Effigies of yr Hon.ble Sr. Walter Rawlegh Knight. 145 by 90mm. [n.p., n.d., c.1680].
33. [PASSE (Simon de) after]. Copper engraving three quarters portrait in an oval ornamental cartouche, titled beneath “Times Witness Herald of Antiquity the Light of Truth & Life of Memory” 160 by 110mm. [frontispiece to his The General History of the World… London, J. Bell et al., 1708].
34. PASSE (Simon de). Copper engraving three quarters portrait in an oval ornamental cartouche, titled beneath “The true and lively portraiture of the honourable and learned Knight Sr. Walter Ralegh” 180 by 110mm. [frontispiece to his The Historie of the World… London, Walter Burre, 1614].
35. PASSE (Simon de). Copper engraving three quarters portrait in an oval ornamental cartouche, titled beneath “The true and lively portraiture of the honourable and learned Knight Sr. Walter Ralegh” 265 by 195mm. [frontispiece to his The Historie of the World… London, White et al., 1677].
36. BALDWIN (R.). Sr. Walter Raleigh. Copper engraved bust portrait in an oval ornamental cartouche. For the London Magazine. 185 by 110mm. London, 1755.
37. COLE (B.). Sr. Walter Ralegh. Engraved three quarter portrait with execution scene vignette beneath. 175 by 105mm. [n.p., n.d. c.1750].
38. SHARP (W.). Sir Walter Raleigh. Engraved bust portrait in an ornamental cartouche. 175 by 120mm. [London, George Kearsley, c.1775].
39. [two cropped engraved portraits, likely from 18th century editions. c.70 by 40mm.]
40. [ANON]. Sr. Walter Raleigh. Engraved bust portrait in an oval cartouche. 140 by 95mm. [n.p., n.d., 18th C.]
41. TROTTER (Thomas). Sir Walter Raleigh. Engraved bust portrait in an ornamental cartouche. After Houbraken. 175 by 125mm. [n.p., n.d. c.1780].
42. [HOUBRAKEN]. Cropped oval bust portrait, the ornamental surroundings trimmed away. 180 by 160mm. [n.p., n.d. c.1739].
43. FRY (W. T.). Composite engraving incorporating bust portraits of Burke, Clarendon, Raleigh, Sidney & Temple. 195 by 125mm. London, T. Boys, March 1st 1826.
44. HOWLETT (B.). A South East View of London, before the destruction of St. Paul’s steeple by fire A.D. 1560. 285 by 400mm. London, Boydell, Sept 2nd 1818.
45. DEAN (T.A.). Queen Elizabeth. From the original of Zucchero, in the Collection of the Most Noble, The Marquis of Salisbury. Stipple etching after “the Rainbow Portrait” attr. to Isaac Oliver. Pub. line trimmed away. 285 by 215mm. [London, Harding et al. June 1st 1825].
46. ACKERMANN pub. Queen Elizabeth Founder of Jesus College from the picture in the Bodleain Gallery. Etching. 285 by 215mm. London, Ackermann, [c.1814].
47. DEAN (T.A.) Queen Elizabeth. 1585. From an original picture by Nicholas Hilliard, at Hatfield House. Engraving. 175 by 130mm. [n.p., n.d. c.1858].
48. COOK (T.) Anthony Wood M.A. Engraved half length portrait. 170 by 135mm. [n.p., n.d., c.1800].
49. BARTLETT (W.H.) & ROBERTS (E.J.). Youghall Abbey (The Residence of Sir Walter Raleigh). 215 by 140mm. [n.p., n.d.].
50. LEWIS & GOODWIN. Fine stipple engraving head and shoulders portrait after Zucchero. 285 by 210mm [n.p., n.d.].
51. [ANON] King Edward the Sixth. […] engraved head and shoulders portrait. 240 by 160mm. [n.p., n.d.]
52. HARDING (E.). Sir Humphrey Gilbert. Stipple engraving head and shoulders portrait. 160 by 115mm. London, Harding, April 1802.
53. HARDING (E.) Sir Francis Drake. Original watercolour head and shoulders sketch, ms. annotations on colour to verso. 195 by 155mm. [n.p., n.d. c.1818].
54. VAUGHAN (Robert). Half length engraved portrait of Drake. Titles beneath: “The worlds survaied bounds, brave Drake on thee did gaze, Both North and Southerne Poles, have seene thy manly face. If thanklesse men conceale, thy prayse the starres would blaze, The Sunne his fellow-travellers worth will duely grace”. 165 by 125mm. [n.p., n.d. c.1670.]
55. [ANON]. Engraved portrait of John of Austria. Titles beneath: “Praebuit hic dignum sese genitore Iohanes […]” 175 by 125mm. [n.p., n.d. c.1670.]
56. COOPER (R). Engraved portrait of Robert Naunton with facsimile ms and signature beneath. 215 by 150mm. London, Baldwyn, n.d.
57. BOND. Queen Elizabeth. In the dress in which she went to St Pauls, to return thanks for the defeat of the Spanish Armada… Half length stipple engraved portrait after Crispin de Passe’s print after Isaac Oliver’s drawing. 205 x 140mm. London, Longman et al, March 12th 1818.
58. [PASSE (Willem de)]. Engraved half length portrait of Humphrey Gilbert. Titled beneath: “Gilbertus cives alium deduxit in orbem […]” 175 by 125mm. [From Heroologia Anglica, Arnhem, 1620].
59. [PASSE (Willem de)]. Rihardus Grenvilus. Engraved bust portrait of Richard Grenville. Titled beneath: “Neptuni proles, qui magni Martis alumnus Grenvilus patrias sanguine tinxit aquas”. 155 by 115mm. [From Heroologia Anglica, Arnhem, 1620].
60. CALAMATTA (Luigi). Philippe II. Engraved head and shoulders portrait. 280 by 210mm. Brussels, Chardon ainé & Aze, 1847.
61. HOUBRAKEN (J.). Robert Dudlei. Engraved head and shoulders portrait in an oval cartouche. 185 by 125mm. [Amsterdam], Is. Tirion, [n.d. c.1740].
62. VERTUE (G.). Edmund Spenser. Engraved head and shoulders portrait in an oval cartouche. 180 by 120mm. [n.d., n.d.]
63. HALL. Elizabeth. Engraved half length portrait in an oval cartouche with Dudley and Raleigh beneath. 185 by 120mm. [n.p., n.d.]
64. [PASSE (Willem de)]. Robertus Deuereus Comes Essexiæ. Engraved head and shoulders portrait of Robert Devereux. 170 by 120mm. [From Heroologia Anglica, Arnhem, 1620].
65. GUCHT (M. V. dr.) Sir Martin Frobisher. Engraved head and shoulders portrait. 180 by 110mm. [n.p., n.d.]
66. [HARDING (E.)?]. Stipple engraved half length portrait. Before letters. 190 by 150mm. [n.p., n.d. c.1810].
67. VERTUE (G.). Elizabeth Regina. Engraved bust portrait in an oval cartouche. After a drawing by I. Oliver. 165 by 95mm. [n.p., n.d.].
68. WHITE (R.). Guliemus Camdenus Clarentius. Engraved bust portrait on William Camden. 180 by 130mm. [n.p., n.d.].
69. [ANON]. Sr. John Hawkins. Engraved bust portrait in an oval cartouche. 155 by 90mm. London, J. Hinton, [n.d.].
70. [PASSE (Willem de)]. Guilielmus Cicilius baro. Engraved oval bust portrait. 145 by 110mm. [From Heroologia Anglica, Arnhem, 1620].
71. [ANON] Elizabeth, Koningin van Engelandt en Yrlandt etc. Engraved bust portrait in oval border. 265 by 180mm. [From Pieter Christiaensz Bor’s Nederlandtsche Oorlogen, 1679].
72. PICART (C.). Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury. Stipple engraved portrait. 285 by 210mm. [n.p., n.d.].
73. SHARPE (C. W.). The Death of Queen Elizabeth. Engraved scene. 285 by 210mm. [n.p., n.d.].
74. [HOLL (William) Sr.] Lady Arabella Stuart. Stipple engraved portrait, before titles. 185 by 155mm. [London, Lackington et al, 1818].
75. [ANON]. Prudens qui Patiens. Vera Effigies Edvardi Coke […] Engraved portrait in an oval border. 190 by 125mm. [n.p., n.d.].
76. [ANON]. Effigies eximij viri Dni Didaci Salmientide Acuna, comitis de Gondomare equitis nobti oidiwis Calatravae. Engraved portrait on Count Gondamore. 175 by 130mm. [London, W. Richardson, n.d.]
77. KILIAN (Wolf). Iacobus D.G. Magnæ Britanniæ Franciæ et Hiberniæ Rex. Engraved head and shoulders portrait. 180 by 120mm. Augsburg, [1620].
78. MONCORNET (B.). Treshault et Trespuissant Prince George Villiers Duc. Marquis ry Comte de Buckingham. Engraved head and shoulders portrait. 170 by 125mm. [n.p., n.d. 1657].
79. MEDLAND. Tower. Richard III. Act III. Scene V. Engraving of the Tower of London. 130 by 200mm. [n.p., n.d.].
80. [ANON]. Ventorum Ludibrium. Satirical engraving of the Spanish Armada. 200 by 150mm. [after an illustration to Samuel Clarke’s “England’s Remembrancer” (1679), published by George Smeeton in “Historical and Biographical Tracts”, 1820.]
81. STEELINK (W.). Engraved Spanish Armada scene. After Joh. Hilverdink. 170 by 225mm. [n.p., n.d.].
82. [DELARAM (Francis)]. Engraved three quarter length portrait of Queen Elizabeth, after Nicholas Hilliard. 230 by 155mm. [from Camden’s Annales, 1630].
83. COLVER. Queen Elizabeth going to St. Paul’s to return thanks for the conquest of the Spanish Armada. Engraved scene after Dod. 180 by 105mm. [n.p., n.d.].
84. PARKER (J.). Q. Elizabeth at Tilbury. Engraved scene after I. Stothard. 420 by 285mm. London, R. Bowyer, Jan 1st 1805.
85. ALLEN (J.C.). The Defeat of the Spanish Armada, 1588. Wngraved scene after W. P. Rogers, after the painting by P. J. de Loutherbourg. 135 by 160mm. [n.p., n.d.].
86. [ANON]. George Earl of Cumberland and Knight of the Garter and Privy Counsilor to Queen Elizabeth famous for five voyages he made at his own charge […] Engraved full length portrait. 195 by 125mm.London, W. Richardson, [n.d.]
87. HARDING (E.). Thomas 7th Earl of Nirthumberland… Full length stipple engraved portrait. 270 by 190mm. London, E. Harding, 1 May 1799.
88. [ANON]. Syr. Thomas Seymour of the Noble Order Knight Lorde Seymour of Sudley Lorde High Admirall of Inglande and Uncle to Kinge Edwarde the Sixte. Engraving with trompe-l’oeil frame. 250 by 200mm. [n.p., n.d. c.1850].
89. PICART (C.). Charles Howard, Earl of Nottingham. Engraved three quarter length portrait after R. W. Satchwell. 290 by 210mm. [n.p., n.d.].
90. [PASSE (Willem de).] Franciscus Draco Nobilissimus Angliae Eques, Rei Nauticae ac Bellicae Peritissimus 1598. Engraved half length portrait of Sir Francis Drake with a globe displaying a world map in miniature, and shield showing his ship. Further titles and boarder cropped away. 105 by 85mm. [From Heroologia Anglica, Arnhem, 1620].
91. GORGES (Ferdinando). Document signed. 16 lines in a secretarial hand, 140 by 205mm. 1597.
92. [DE BRY after]. Sir Walter Raleigh’s conquest of the city of St Joseph in the Isles of Trinidad. Engraving. 195 by 220mm. [n.p., n.d. c.19th C].
93. RAWLE (S.). Queen’s Head, Islington. Engraved scene, after E.W.L. Stockdale. From the European Magazine. 120 by 160mm. London, J. Asperne, April 1, 1808.
94. SEARS. Raleigh’s House at Islington. Wood engraving with typeset text beneath. 220 by 1135mm. [n.p., n.d.].
95. SHEFFIELD (Edmund) First Earl Mulgrave. Document signed. 1p. January 1623.
96. ST JOHN (Oliver) 3rd Baron. & SACKVILLE (Thomas) Baron Buckhurst. Document signed. 1p. 1602.
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