ROWLANDSON, Thomas, 1756-1827 [Text by John Buonarotti Papworth, Francis Wrangham, and William Combe]

[Color Plate] Poetical sketches of Scarborough; illustrated by twenty-one engravings of humorous subjects, coloured from original designs, made upon the spot

London: Printed for R. Ackermann 101 Strand by J. Diggens Saint Ann's Lane, 1813. Second Edition. Morocco. Second Edition of this volume of light satirical verse, published the same year as the first, with initials of the authors now subjoined to each incident. Royal 8vo: [8],xv,[1],215,[1]pp, with 21 hand-colored engravings (including frontispiece) by Thomas Rowlandson after drawings by J. Green, showing "comically all the delights and amusements of a fashionable watering-place." (Hardie) “Plate 8, ‘The Warm Bath,’ is said to contain the portrait of Mrs. Robinson, George IV’s mistress.” (Tooley). Elegantly bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in full burgundy morocco, covers with triple gilt (French) fillets, spine richly tooled in gilt in compartments, top edge gilt, gilt turn-ins, marbled end papers. Light, scattered foxing and brief rubbing to joints, else an exceptionally pleasing copy. Abbey, Scenery 297-98. Tooley 422. Prideaux, pp. 144-145. Grolier Rowlandson 66 (for first edition). Hardie, p. 170. Franklin, pp. 72-74 ("The plates are very beautifully done . . . "). Near Fine+. Item #BB1351

Text by William Combe, most famous as author of The Tour of Doctor Syntax; clergyman, abolitionist and bibliophile Francis Wrangham, who also produced a bibliography of Scarborough; and architect and designer John Buonarotti Papworth. One of England’s oldest and most fashionable seaside resorts, Scarborough in Yorkshire grew as a major destination for therapeutic sea-bathing from the mid-18th into the 19th century. “It appears that Mr. Green, the artist, during a visit to Scarborough in the season of 1812, made various pleasing and humorous sketches of the most striking objects . . . and that some of his poetical friends, to whom they were shown, undertook the task of illustrating and giving them effect by appropriate sketches in verse.” (The Monthly Review, Vol. LXXII (1813), p. 73). 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. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).

Price: $499.00