1793 Letters of Lady Rachel Russell; From the Manuscript in the Library at Woburn Abbey. To Which is Prefixed, an Introduction, Vindicating the Character of Lord Russell Against Sir Dalrymple, etc. [Roger De Coverly Binding]

A very smart fifth edition copy of the Letters of Lady Rachel Russell, an accomplished epistolist and the wife of Lord William Russell, who was executed under the accusation of high treason following the Rye House Plot. Lady Russell worked tirelessly to clear her husband's name, and her letters to royal associates and those in the noble circles were published as a collection in 1772.

This copy of the 1793 edition was rebound into fine leather by Roger De Coverly, an exceptional 19th Century bookbinder whose work influenced the Arts and Crafts Movement through the tutoring of T. J. Cobden-Sanderson. From here, the book was passed into the hands of Ronald Munro Ferguson, 1st Viscount Novar and Governor-General of Australia between 1914 and 1920. His bookplate sits at the front pastedown.

In very good condition with only the lightest rubbing to corners and the spine head, one or two pages a little spotty or tanned but generally very clean. Bookplate as stated. Block edge a little roughly cut. Nice engraving to introduction. Handsomely bound in brown morocco leather with raised spine bands and gilt titles, marbled boards, vibrant marbled endpapers, and a gilt top edge. 22.5 x 14 cm. xii, xlix, ccxxviii, ccxxxi, pp. 236-589.