Westmorland, Cumberland, Durham, and Northumberland, Illustrated.
London and Paris: H. Fisher, R. Fisher, & P. Jackson, 1832-35 Stock Code: 140668
First edition of this delightful collection of views, more than half of which are given over to Lake District subjects, described as being the first album that "featured Wordsworthian sites and sights" (Saeko Yoshikawa, William Wordsworth and the Invention of Tourism, 1820-1900, 2014, p. 174). It was originally issued in 26 parts as a section of Fisher's Picturesque Illustrations of Great Britain and Ireland. Thomas Allom was responsible for 189 of the designs and the work was divided among a team of 26 engravers. Basil Hunnisett notes that Allom's drawings, like those of Thomas Bewick, "are full of little touches that redeem them from formality... These touches give his illustrations a perennial interest" (Steel-engraved Book Illustration in England, 1980, p. 109). In his "Address", the publisher Henry Fisher gives an interesting breakdown of the costs involved in production, comprising 5,000 for the painting, drawing and engraving, 2,750 for printing of the plates, the same for paper and duty on paper, and 500 for letterpress printing, making the not insubstantial total of 11,000. Aside from the obvious attractions of the picturesque scenery covered in these volumes, there was also a patriotic motive behind the depiction of the very latest constructions and buildings, such as the Scottswood Bridge over the Tyne (opened in 1831) and the Royal Arcade in Newcastle (1832, demolished 1963), the latter a beautifully executed plate by James Sands after Allom.
Description
2 volumes, quarto (271 x 228 mm). Contemporary red morocco-grain half roan, spines gilt lettered direct in the second and third compartments, the remainder richly gilt, sides and corners trimmed with a broad gilt anthemion roll, red cloth sides, gilt edges, Nonpareil pattern marbled endpapers.
Illustrations
Engraved vignette title page and 214 steel-engraved illustrations (largely two to a plate), engraved by William Le Petit, James Sands, Samuel Lacey and others after Thomas Allom, George Pickering and Henry Gastineau.
Condition
Bindings just a little rubbed, a few marks to sides of vol. I, cloth slightly creased at fore edge of same vol., light offsetting from plates to letterpress. An attractive copy, clean and bright, presenting well on the shelf.
DELIVERY
With the exception of framed items*, Peter Harrington offers free delivery on all UK orders of rare books, maps and prints placed through this website. Delivery to USA and the rest of the world is similarly free for orders over £200.
ABOUT US
Established in 1969, Peter Harrington is one of the leading rare book firms in the world. It is a proud member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association – along with ILAB, the PBFA and Lapada – and from shops in Mayfair and Chelsea, London, sells rare books, prints and ephemera to customers across the world.
Email: mail@peterharrington.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 7591 0220