W. H. Wilkins — Five Biographies by W.H. Wilkins

London, Hutchinson & Co; Longmans, Green, and Co, 1897-1905. First edition. Leather. A strikingly bound set of five brilliant biographical works by W. H. Wilkins, most on royal consorts, all lavishly illustrated. A striking set of five biographical works of W. H. Wilkins, uniformly bound biographies on Isabel Lady Burton, Queen Sophia Dorothea, Caroline of Ansbach, Caroline Matilda, and Maria Fitzherbert.Wilkins was a leading royal biographer, who had unrivaled access to unpublished letters by his subjects, in particular Sophia Dorothea, and was given permission by Edward VII to see the Fitzherbert papers at Windsor Castle.'Romance of Isabel Lady Burton', the third edition, published in 1897. Volume I is illustrated with a frontispiece, and seventeen plates, Volume II with a frontispiece, and twenty-three plates. Collated, complete.Isabel Burton was an English writer and explorer, best known for being the wife of the famous adventurer, Richard Francis Burton. Much of Lady Burton's life was influenced by her Catholic faith, and during the Crimean War, she set up a Catholic group called the 'Stella Club', which helped support the families of soldiers. Wilkins personally knew Isabel, and wrote this sympathetic memoir based on her letters and autobiography.'The Love of an Uncrowned Queen', the first edition, published in 1900. Volume I illustrated with a frontispiece and twenty plates, Volume II with a frontispiece, and twenty plates. Collated, complete. List of illustrations to Volume I is misbound before the contents. Sophia was the wife of King George I, and mother of George II. Including her correspondence with her lover Philip Christopher Count Konigsmarck, here first published from the originals.'Caroline the Illustrious', the first edition, published in 1901. Volume I is illustrated with a frontispiece, and twenty plates, Volume II with a frontispiece, and twenty plates. Collated, complete.Caroline was the wife of George II, known for her political influence over her husband in favour for Robert Walpole. She was regent four times, during her husband's stays in Hanover. 'A Queen of Tears', the first edition, published in 1904. Volume I illustrated with a frontispiece and twenty-four plates, Volume II with a frontispiece, and twenty-two plates. Collated, complete.On Caroline Matilda, the Princess of Britain and the Queen of Denmark and Norway, who is known for her doomed affair with the physician Johann Friedrich Struensee. 'Mrs. Fitzherbert and George IV', published in 1905. Volume I illustrated with a frontispiece and twenty-six plates. Volume II illustrated with a frontispiece, two folding plates, and twenty-two plates.On the longtime lover of George IV, Maria Fitzherbert, who had married in an invalid wedding in 1785. The pair met when Fitzherbert was twice widowed. After meeting, the Prince Regent, who was six years her junior, was smitten and infatuated by her. They secretly married a year later, this it was not valid by law, and it is thought that they had one or two children together.Bookplate of Sir Charles Philip Huntington to the front paste downs. In a half a morocco binding with cloth to the boards. Externally, smart. Light rubbing to the joints and extremities. Spines are a touch faded. A few very light marks to the boards and spines. Spots to the fore edges. Discolouration to the rear board of 'Lady Burton' Volume I, and to the front board of Volume II. A small amount of loss to the head of the spine of 'Lady Burton' Volume II. Loss to the head of the spines of 'Queen of Tears&apos. Bookplate to the front paste downs. Tidemark to the endpapers of 'Lady Burton' Volume I. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean. Very Good . Ill.: Various. Very Good .