Old Italian Masters

Old Italian Masters Engraved by Timothy Cole, Japan Proofs, Vols. I, II. Folio.(15" x 17.5") Two Folio Albums of 34 Japan Proofs each, each limited to only 125 copies, each proof signed by the Artist Timothy Cole. Bound in three quarter dark brown leather with generous corners over green pebbled boards. Spine with five gilt-decorated raised bands, gilt lettering to second and fourth compartment, single gilt floral device centered to each other compartment, gilt "1892" to foot. Marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Article on the publication of this set of books tipped in to page facing title. Edgewear, corners bumped and rubbed, some with small loss to tips. Bottom board edges and spine bands scuffed and rubbed. Overall, a beautiful, large set of books. Every image printed onto Japan Paper "tissue" and framed with gilt-ruled card, some tissues not fully attached, still "framed". Every plate states " This impression, taken by hand on Japan Paper, is one of one hundred and twenty-five copies printed by me from the original blocks and plates in the year 1892." and signed by the "Professional Proof-printer for Wood-engravers, (signed in pencil) C. Bauer". Every plate also shows a sketch of the original complete work when only part of it was engraved by Cole. Lastly, every proof is hand-signed by Timothy Cole in pencil as well.

Timothy Cole was born in 1852 in London, England, his family emigrated to the United States in 1858. He established himself in Chicago, where in the great fire of 1871 he lost everything he possessed. In 1875, he moved to New York City, finding work on the Century (then Scribner's) magazine. Cole was associated with the magazine for 40 years as a pioneer craftsman of wood engraving. He immediately attracted attention by his unusual facility and his sympathetic interpretation of illustrations and pictures, and his publishers sent him abroad in 1883 to engrave a set of blocks after the old masters in the European galleries. These achieved for him a brilliant success. His reproductions of Italian, Dutch, Spanish, Flemish and English pictures were published in book form with appreciative notes by the engraver himself. He published his prints in several books: Old Italian Masters (1892), Old Dutch and Flemish Masters (1895), Old English Masters (1902),[8] and Old Spanish Masters (1907). This set of books is a First Edition of his first set of books produced by him.