Princess Marie Liechtenstein — Holland House

London, Macmillan and Co. 1874. First edition. Cloth. A first edition two-volume set on the history and art collection of Holland House, originally known as Cope Castle. The first edition of this two-volume set in the publisher's original cloth bindings, with gilt detailing to the spines. Mudie's Select Library bookplate to the front boards. Bookplate to the front paste downs. Illustrated with a frontispiece and a title page vignette and numerous headpieces, tailpieces and in-text illustrations to each volume. Volume I is illustrated with eight further plates and a folding facsimile plate. Volume II is illustrated with nine further plates and four folding facsimile plates. Collated, complete. Princess Marie Henrietta Adelaide of Liechtenstein (1850-1878) was an English writer, who was adopted by a nobleman and wed into the Princely House of Liechtenstein. This was her only work, but she also translated German works into English. This volume details Holland House and its art collection, and was relatively popular, remaining an important source for the house's history. Holland House was an early Jacobean country house in Kensington, London, built in 1605 and later destroyed during the Blitz in 1940, with only the east wing and some ruins remaining. It was a Whig social centre during its heyday. Remarkably, despite twenty-two bombs falling upon the house, the library and many important volumes within survived. In the publisher's original cloth bindings. Externally sound, with marks to the boards and shelf wear to the extremities. Mudie's Select Library bookplate to the front boards. Hinges to both volumes are strained, with webbing showing, but are holding reasonably firm. Pages are generally bright and clean, with the occasional spot to Volume II. Good . Ill.: Not Stated. Good .