Description
Inscribed by King George V and Queen Mary of Teck to their chaplain, Reverend Arthur Fuller, this is the limited edition of Westminster Abbey by Reverend Herbert Francis Westlake.
Large octavo, [two volumes], xxxix, [1], 272pp; xi, [1], 273-518pp, I-LIX, [3]. Blue cloth, title in gilt on spine. Top edge gilt, gilt emblem to front covers. Solid text blocks, occasional foxing, light wear to edges and corners, a very good set. Small ink stains to rear cover of Volume I and front cover of Volume II. Both volumes with faint paper clip marks along top edge of front flyleaves. Complete with eighty full page plates split evenly, with ten in text illustrations in Volume I, and three in text illustrations in Volume II. Large fold out map of the Abbey in color at rear of Volume II. Stated one of 350 copies on colophon of Volume II.
Signed on flyleaf of Volume I: “The Rev. Arthur Fuller from George RV and Mary R. / Christmas 1932.”
The recipient of this book, Reverend Arthur Fuller, was Domestic Chaplain to the Royal Family, and Rector of Sandringham at the St. Mary Magdalene Church. The London Gazette states Fuller conducted a service to honor the passing of King George V at Sandringham Church on April 29, 1936, four years after receiving this copy. The author of this work, the Rev. Herbert Francis Westlake (1879-1925) was a Minor Canon and assistant records keeper at Westminster Abbey.
