[Fore-Edge Paintings]. [Mary Berry]. A Comparative View of Social Life in England and France... London: Richard Bentley, 1844. New Edition. Volume I (of two) only. Octavo. xii, 357, [1, blank] pages. With portrait frontispiece inserted at front. Finely bound (presumably by Hayday) for Anna Maria Stanhope, Duchess of Bedford (1783-1857) in contemporary full dark blue calf, boards ruled in gilt, with her coat of arms stamped in gilt on both boards, spine stamped in gilt in compartments, red and light brown gilt morocco lettering labels on spine, gilt board edges and turn-ins, marbled endleaves. With a modern fore-edge painting of a nude female reading in repose by Martin Frost with his signed bookplate dated 2007. Spine worn with some tearing at headcap, some wear to board edges, hinges barely starting, some foxing in text. Still, a good copy with an excellent fore-edge painting and association.
Anna Maria Stanhope was a lifelong friend and Queen Victoria, even serving as Lady of the Bedchamber from 1841 until 1847. She is also credited as the creator of "afternoon tea," which is synonymous with English nobility and the upper class.