Beschreibung:

DANIELL, WILLAM, AND RICHARD AYTONA voyage round Great Britain, undertaken in the summer of the year 1813, and commencing from the Land's-End, Cornwall ... With a series of views, illustrative of the character and prominent features of the coast, drawn and engraved by William Daniell London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown and William Daniell 1814-1825 8 volumes in 4, imperial 4to (14 1/4 x 10 1/4 in.). Uncolored aquatint dedication leaf at the front of Vol. I, 308 hand-colored aquatints, all by and after William Daniell; without the uncolored stipple-engraving of "Kemaes Head, Pembrokshire" found in some copies, some minor offsetting from the text onto the plates (as usual), minor age toning to the plates. Expertly bound to style in red half morocco and period red cloth covered boards, spines with raised bands in six compartments, second and third gilt-lettered, others with repeat motif in gilt, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers. "The most important colour plate book on British topography" (Tooley) "Such a succession of beautiful plates is scarcely to be found elsewhere, and they are unsurpassed both in delicacy of drawing and tinting. The voyage, starting from the Land's End and continuing by the north coast of Cornwall, was made partly by sea and partly by land, the original intention to travel principally by sea not being found practicable on account of the dangerous nature of the coast. The Introduction states that 'While the inland counties of England had been so hackneyed by travellers and quartos, the coast has hitherto been almost unaccountably neglected, and if we except a few fashionable watering-places, is entirely unknown to the public ... But many, who would not venture in pursuit of amusement out of the latitude of good inns and level roads, to make paths for themselves over rocks and crags, may still be pleased to become acquainted at a cheaper rate, with the character of their own shores, where most conspicuous for boldness and picturesque beauty. It is the design, therefore, of the following voyage, minutely to describe the whole coast of Great Britain; not merely ... its well-known towns, ports, and havens, but to illustrate the grandeur of its natural scenery, the manners and employment of its people and the modes of life in its wildest parts' ... One would fain know who was the colourist of these beautiful plates ... The plates, and they are numerous, in which sea-birds circle above the rugged cliffs, are especially fine ... but it is impossible to make any individual selections from such a treasure-house of beauty" (Aquatint Engraving pp.279-280). The work was originally issued in parts costing 10s.6d. each, or £60 when completed. REFERENCE:Abbey, Scenery 16; Prideaux 326; Bobins II:636; Tooley 177Condition ReportCondition as described in catalogue entry. The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The