Illustrated Magna Carta: Rare Book of the Week

Magna Carta Regis Johannis XV die Junii AD MCCXV Anno Regni XVII was published in 1816 to mark the 600th anniversary of Magna Carta and will be among the offerings from Peter Harrington at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair later this month. 

John Whittaker’s edition was one of the most ambitious publishing ventures of the 19th century, employing his newly invented process of printing from gold leaf, and this was the first book to reproduce the effect of burnished gold. Whittaker never shared the secret of his method which used a heated stereotype plate to transfer the gold leaf.

Every aspect of this extra-illustrated copy printed on vellum was lavish and expensive. The illumination and decoration were executed by several artists including T. Aickin, John Harris, and Richard Thomson. Overall supervision was entrusted to Thomas Willement, heraldic artist to George IV, who had special responsibility for heraldic accuracy.

The plainest copies were printed on thick glazed card (priced at £10 10s), while the richest were printed on vellum, mixed paper and vellum, satin, or red card. The choicest copies were illuminated and included additional paintings, and this copy features five full-page artworks: an early pencilled note inside records “this copy cost £367 with the added illustration”.

Previous owners include print collector and specialist in British history and portraiture Edward Wenman Martin (1768-1853) with his engraved portrait on the front pastedown, and manuscript collector Martin Schøyen (1940-), with his collection book label.

Magna Carta was the first formal assertion that sovereign power is limited by law, guaranteeing rights and legal process that underpin modern constitutional rule. Peter Harrington will also be offering a significant collection of materials relating to the Watergate scandal collected by Hunter S. Thompson, one of Richard Nixon’s most scathing and high-profile critics.