The Armoury of Windsor Castle: European Section - Published by Command of His Majesty King Edward VII [Inscribed by Laking]

Book Description

London: Bradbury, Agnew, 1904. First Edition. Hardcover. Light shelf/edge wear, small moisture stain at heel (no effect to text block), cloth partially released from boards at spine (easy repair), light soiling/rubbing to boards, minor sporadic foxing (focused at preliminaries), thumb-tear at rfep, inscribed by author, else tight, bright and unmarred. Quarterbound, brown leather spine, gilt lettering and decorative elements, red ink and gilt monogram of Edward VII at front board, frontispiece, tissueguards, teg. Small fo. 284pp. Illus. (b/w plates). Collection catalogue, 39 plates. Sir Guy Francis Laking, 2nd Baronet (October 21, 1875 - November 22, 1919) was an English art historian, Keeper of the King's Armoury and the first keeper of the London Museum from before its opening until his death. The son of a prominent London physician, he was friendly with the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII). Laking was a keen collector from a very young age (as evidenced by his first essay, 'The Sword of Joan of Arc', written at the age of 10). In 1891 he met the Baron de Cosson (widely considered the foremost expert on arms and armour in his generation). This acquaintance was influential in his subsequent career. His first work at Christies was a sale catalogue of the Zschille Collection, which sold in January 1897. He then compiled catalogues for the Gurney, Spiller, Breadalbane, Kennedy and North collections of arms and armour. The Kennedy Collection was formed largely as a result Laking's input and contained exceptionally fine swords and firearms. In his catalogues for Christies Laking's descriptions contained a combination of scholarship and enthusiasm, which was a departure from the uninspired commentary of other conventional catalogues. Laking became Keeper of the King's Armoury at Windsor in 1902 (a post created for him by Edward VII); Inspector of the Armoury at the Wallace Collection and in 1911 Keeper of the London Museum, where he was tasked with acquiring, cataloguing and arranging the collection. (see royalarmouries.org). Inscribed to William Henry Fenton by Laking. Noted flaws notwithstanding, a rather uncommon volume in such overall nice condition and genuinely scarce inscribed by Laking.

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