Description
BEAUTIFUL LARGE FOLIO, WITH 76 HAND-COLORED AQUATINTS OF SCENERY ALONG THE THAMES
(BOYDELL, John and Josiah). [COMBE, William]. An History of the River Thames. London: W. Bulmer for John and Josiah Boydell, 1794-96. Two volumes. Folio (measures 13 by 18 inches), 19th-century period-style slate-gray paper boards, original paper spines and labels laid down, uncut.
Large-paper first edition, first issue, of this wonderful visual record of the River Thames, with 76 full-page hand-colored aquatints by Stadler after Farrington of prospects along the banks and a large folding map by John Cooke of “The Course of the River Thames from Its Source to the Sea.”
“The most important art publishers and dealers in our history are the two Boydells, John and his nephew Josiah, who, though their munificence was chiefly directed towards painters and engravers, also issued a few fine books with colored aquatint plates, notably the History of the River Thames” (Prideaux, 266). The scenery along the Thames was a popular subject for publication. Joseph Farrington was one of a group of Romantic artists and writers in search of the picturesque, whose portrayal of the wild and rugged landscape transformed public opinion toward the sublimity of nature. His landscape paintings were influential in attracting tourists to the English Lake District in the early 19th century. For the Boydells, the Thames project would contribute greatly to the reputation of their Shakespeare Gallery, the purpose of which was to “establish an English School of Historical Painting.” “Large-paper copies are the best, and fine, clean, and perfect copies are really rare, some part of the preliminary leaves are often missing” (Tooley). This copy is a complete first issue, with plates surrounded by aquatint borders and containing general title pages for An History of the Principal Rivers of Great Britain. Tooley 102. Abbey, Scenery 432.
Only occasional very light foxing, faint dampstains to frontispiece and title page of Volume I only, rubbing to original spine labels. A splendid, complete, copy. Scarce.
