[COMBE, William, imitator; Thomas Rowlandson, imitator]

[Color Plate] The tour of Doctor Prosody : in search of the antique and picturesque, through Scotland, the Hebrides, the Orkney, and Shetland isles ; illustrated by twenty humorous plates

London / Edinburgh / Glasgow: Matthew Iley, Somerset Street / Bell and Bradfute; W. Blackwood / W. Turnbull, 1821. First Edition. Morocco. First Edition. Tall 8vo: [4],251,[1]pp, with 20 leaves of hand-colored aquatints by William Read and C. Williams (after, but not by, Rowlandson, as often asserted). Text in verse. Contemporary red straight-grained morocco, covers bordered in blind and in gilt, richly gilt spine in six compartments, gilt turn-ins, red morocco lettering piece gilt, all edges gilt, period plain brown end papers. An excellent example of a handsome production, with marginal stains on paste-downs from binder's glue and light offsetting from plates onto opposing pages, otherwise clean, bright, and unmarked. Tooley 433. Abbey, Life, 277. Prideaux, p. 334. Hardie, pp 168, 317. Near Fine+. Item #BB1341

One of a "host of parodies and spurious imitations" (Hardie) of William Combe's series of Doctor Syntax books, and sometimes attributed to him (as well as to Rowlandson). Some of the incidents depicted are similar to those described in Boswell's Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, with Samuel Johnson, and it may have been inspired by that book. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed.

Price: $574.00