Various [Compiled. by Charles Heath, ed. by The Countess of Blessington] — Book of Beauty

London, Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1842. First edition. Leather. A scarce and fascinating compilation of short stories, accounts, portraits and poems that offer us great insight into Victorian perceptions surrounding beauty. Heath's Book of Beauty, a scarce compilation of works on Victorian standards of beauty, collected by British engraver Charles Heath and edited by the Countess of Blessington. Published by Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans in 1842.In decorative red morocco, with a frontispiece of Queen Victoria, a decorative title leaf, and all other eleven illustrated portraits of selected women, sometimes with their children, by various painters. Collated complete.Written five years into the reign of Queen Victoria, the book offers us intriguing insight into how Victorians perceived beauty, with poems accompanying portraits, as well as short stories and accounts written by among others Benjamin Disraeli and Lady Wyatt. Rather than purely focusing on physical beauty, there are also writings on the beauty of nature. In decorative red morocco. Externally, smart, with the odd mark to boards. Signs of edgewear, with slight rubbing to the joints, to the head and tail of the spine, and to the extremities. Brown end papers are clean, with a couple of small marks. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean, with the occasional faint spot, heavier to p.135, and to first and last leaves. Very Good . Ill.: Various. Very Good .