Italian Pictures Drawn with Pen and Pencil
Italian Pictures Drawn with Pen and Pencil
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Italian Pictures Drawn with Pen and Pencil, published around 1880, is a particularly handsome example of the series. The text walks you through Italy's great cities with the confidence of a good guide, lingering over classical ruins and Renaissance facades, pausing for scenes of daily life, and everywhere returning to the architecture and antiquity that defined the British Grand Tour imagination. The engraved illustrations are generous and detailed, giving the whole volume the weight of a serious travel companion rather than a picture book.
What makes this copy sing is the binding. Late Victorian decorative cloth at its most confident, with polychrome stamping in deep red and blue, gilt classical scenes and architectural views on the front board, a portrait medallion, and the RTS monogram worked into the spine. The gilt edges are still bright and catch the light beautifully. The format is large and the presence is real, the kind of book that holds its own on a library table.
The binding is structurally sound with a tight text block and secure hinges. There is visible wear at the spine ends, including chipping at the head and some loss at the tail, along with general rubbing to the edges and corners. The front board remains bright and attractive with the polychrome and gilt stamping showing well. The rear board has faded to a more subdued tone, which is typical for the period and the cloth used.
Gilt page edges are still bright and reflective. Interior pages show moderate foxing throughout, consistent with age, but all pages are intact with none missing. A period gift inscription appears on the front endpaper reading "To Madge, with … love, Christmas 1891." No other markings observed.
Shipping & Returns
All antique and vintage items are shipped from our warehouse in Bluffdale, Utah. Each piece is carefully packed by hand using archival materials and custom crating when necessary.
Shipping costs are calculated at checkout based on the size and weight of the item. Local pickup is available at the AMD Warehouse.
All sales of antique and vintage items are final due to their unique, one-of-a-kind nature. Illuminé candles and The Collector's Guide may be returned within 14 days of delivery if unopened and in original condition.
If your piece arrives damaged, please photograph the damage immediately (including packaging), contact us within 48 hours at austynmariedesign@gmail.com, and do not discard any packaging.
Important Info About Antique & Vintage
Every antique and vintage item we carry has lived a life before arriving in your home. These are not factory-made products. They are objects with history, character, and the marks of time.
Age-appropriate wear, patina, minor imperfections, and signs of previous use or repair are inherent to antique and vintage items and are not considered defects. These characteristics are part of what makes each piece unique and are often what give it its beauty and value.
We describe the condition of each piece as accurately as possible in the listing. If you have specific questions about a piece before purchasing, please reach out. We are always happy to provide additional photos or details.
Colors may appear slightly different on screen due to monitor settings and photography lighting. We do our best to represent each item accurately.
