Camden, William (after); James Basire [engraver].
The Funeral Procession of Queen Elizabeth I, From a Drawing of the Time, Supposed to be the Hand of William Camden, Then Clarencieux King at Arms, Which Was in the Possession of John Wilmot Esq, FRS & by Him Deposited in the British Museum.
London: Society of Antiquaries, 1791. First Edition. Hardcover. Custom folder holding folding panorama, engraved plates joined on versos to form continuous view: 9 and 3/8 inches by nearly 29 feet. Spectacular hand-colored panorama of the funeral procession of Queen Elizabeth I in April 1603, reproducing drawings in the British Museum ascribed to Elizabeth's biographer William Camden, who appeared in the procession in his official role as Clarenceaux King of Arms. Other mourners of note include Robert Cecil, Thomas Egerton, and Walter Raleigh. At the time of her death, most Englishmen had known no monarch but Elizabeth, as the elaborate formal procession detailed here was swelled by thousands of Londoners. This engraved copy of Camden's original drawings was produced in 1791 for the Society of Antiquaries, appearing in the third volume of "Vetusta Monumenta"; the panorama has been almost entirely colored in an early hand. Left uncolored, strikingly, is the effigy of the queen mounted upon her coffin, a likeness so startling that the London crowd gasped to see it. It is presumed it was left uncolored to reflect the virtue of the Virgin Queen. An exemplary recording of one of the great public ceremonies in English history and document displaying the social order of the monarchy and common people. This edition appears scarce and OCLC lists only five institutions for holdings. Very Good. Item #9317 Minor shelf/edge wear, remnant of label (dated 1891) affixed to verso of the first panel, occasional paper flaws and irregularities to panorama, sporadic foxing, minor abrasion to front pastedown, else bright and clean. Half bound, black leather spine and tips, blue pebbled cloth boards, gilt lettering and decorative elements, marbled front pastedown. Oblong 8vo. np. Illus. (colored plate).