London, Day and Son, lithographers to the Queen, April 2dn 1860, large in-8°, 29,5 x 21 cm, (6)nn pp (chromolithographed title and half titles) + 104 pp + 100 plates in chromolithography printed on thick paper. Bound in claret coloured half morocco, raised gilt spine, marbled boards. Fine copy. First edition (MacLean 85). A fine book illustrating the mid19th century interest in the Gothic style. It provides an overview of the art of illuminating in Western culture with examples from the VIth - XVIth century. The book itself is a splendid example of the fine art of chromolithographical printing attained by the printers Day and Son.