W.H. Wilkins [William Henry Wilkins] — Mrs. Fitzherbert and George IV

London, Longmans, Green and Co. 1905. First edition. Cloth. The first edition of a complete two volume biography on the scandalous love affair between George IV and Maria Fitzherbert, the first with access to the Fitzherbert papers. The first edition of Mrs. Fitzherbert and George IV, an illustrated biography on the famous love affair, written by royal biographer William Henry Wilkins.  In the publisher's decorative original purple cloth. Volume I contains a frontispiece and all thirty other plates, while Volume II contains a frontispiece and all twenty-five other plates, including two folding letter facsimiles. Collated complete. Despite the affair between Fitzherbert and George IV being considered the scandal of its time, Wilkins argued that the secret marriage ceremony while George was young should have been recognised for their deep devotion to one another. Wilkins worte similar biograhies of royal affairs in the reigns of George I and II.  Wilkins was the first to be given access to the Fitzherbert papers at Windsor Castle in preparation for the biography, granted by Edward VII's permission.  In the publisher's decorative original purple cloth. Externally, mostly smart, fading to the spine and to board extremities. Slight bumping to the heads and tails of the spines, and to the extremities, with faint rubbing to joints. Offsetting to rear free end papers, with the odd spot to pastedowns and the front free end paper. Previous owner's bookplates to front pastedowns, and sticker grazes. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are mostly bright and clean, with faint age toning to leaf edges. Very Good . Ill.: Various. Very Good .