[Rarebooks] FS: 1850 Chromo study of Medieval Tiles

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

SPECIMENS OF INLAID TILES HERALDIC AND GEOMETRICAL FROM NEATH ABBEY, 
GLAMORGANSHIRE.

By H.H. Knight and Egbert Moxham.
Edinburgh; Committee of the Neath Philosophical Institution: no date
(Solon says 1850, and this seems about right).

These beautiful and striking Medieval pavements were discovered in 1848, 
and included tiles emblazoned with the arms of noble families of 
Glamorganshire. A Norman, Richard de Granville, established Neath Abbey in 
1130 and it became a Cistercian Abbey in 1147, gradually growing in size 
and wealth, with estates in Devon, Glamorgan and Somerset.

Tudor historian John Leland called it "The fairest Abbey in all Wales" just 
before it was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1539. A few years later it came 
into the possession of Sir Richard Williams, who, with his son, converted 
it into a grand estate.

Later there was a copper smelting works on the property, but the Victorian 
era and 20th century saw a gradual restoration of the ruins, and the 
uncovering of the Medieval tiles.

The text of this study was written by Rev. Knight, rector of Neath, who 
identifies many of the families whose arms are represented. The beautiful 
red and yellow plates are interesting early examples of Scottish 
chromolithography, and were reproduced from drawings by Moxham, an architect.

This was evidently the Earl of Jersey's copy, his name appearing in pencil 
on the pastedown; he is also listed as a subscriber.

Hardcover. 22"x15", with a beautiful and elaborate lithographed scenic 
title page, dedication page, list of subscribers, and 27 pages of text plus 
8 plates, the first a tinted view of the Abbey, the second a floor plan 
with inset details, plates 3-7 beautiful chromolithographed plates of the 
tiles themselves, in red and yellow tones, the last plate another tinted 
plate of the Abby by moonlight. Bound in at the back is a lithographed 
Prospectus for the limited 2nd edition of a history of the Charters of the 
Abbey.  Orignal cloth, covers with light rubbing and wear, corners bumped; 
light scattered internal foxing, a few small wormholes near the margins, 
but overall a nice copy.  $850

Pictures- <http://www.joslinhall.com/images/th-28446.jpg>
<http://www.joslinhall.com/images/th-28446-a.jpg>


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