The Diary of John Evelyn, 1906, Signed Bindings by Chivers, Bath, England

Binding Details:  Fine contemporary Chivers bindings of full dark red morocco leather, boxed gilt decorated spine, blind and gilt ruling to both beveled boards, gilt ruling and corner decoration to the inner boards, leather hinge to the free marbled end papers.  The top page edges are gilted and there are silk head and tailbands. The bindery stamp of Cedric Chivers appears in gilt to the bottom edge of the back cover of each book.

Set Details:  Evelyn's Diary provides a vivid portrait of the great events and personalities of 17th century England, and he is justly ranked with his contemporary, Samuel Pepys, as one of greatest English diarists of all time. The diaries originally consisted of two manuscript volumes covering the period between 1641 and 1706, a few weeks before the author's death. It remained in manuscript form until 1818, when William Bray published a selection from the Diary under the title "Memoirs Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, comprising His Diary from 1641 to 1705/6, and a Selection of His Familiar Letters" in 2 volumes. Later editions of which this is one, includes an additional volume containing his correspondence. This edition is the extra illustrated edition that contains 100 eighteenth and nineteenth century engravings with an original watercolor frontis portrait of the young Evelyn and a hand drawn extra title page to Volume 1.

Each book measures 8.75” x 6” x 2.125”. Volume 1 is 335 pages, Volume 2 is 420 pages, and Volume 3 is 479 pages.

Condition Report: The bindings are in Near FINE condition with minimal surface wear and some light scuffing to the hinges which remain sound and secure. Internally, the books are very clean with no foxing. Each volume contains the bookplate of the The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn on the front pastedown.

Photographs of the books, the Chivers binder’s stamp, bookplate, and the frontispiece illustration appear in the photo section of the listing.