The Northern Cambrian Mountains; or, a Tour through North Wales

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Thomas Compton,

The Northern Cambrian Mountains; or, a Tour through North Wales

London: Printed for Thomas Clay, No 18, Ludgate Hill; By John Hill, Water Lane, Blackfriars. 1820.

A pleasing near fine example in the publisher’s boards, the plates choice impressions, the leaves and plates untrimmed. Complete in all respects with 39 aquatint plates with fine original hand colouring.

$8,500.00

A pleasing near fine example in the publisher’s boards, the plates choice impressions, the leaves and plates untrimmed. Complete in all respects with 39 aquatint plates with fine original hand colouring.

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A pleasing near fine example in the publisher’s boards, the plates choice impressions, the leaves and plates untrimmed. Complete in all respects with 39 aquatint plates with fine original hand colouring.

The volume(s) measure about 35.5 cm. by 25.5 cm. by 2.3 cm.

Each leaf measures about 350 mm. by 245 mm.

The full title reads:

The Northern Cambrian Mountains; or, a Tour through North Wales: Describing the Scenery and General Characters of that Romantic Country. Embellished with a series of highly finished coloured views, engraved from original drawings, by Messrs Turner R.A.; Compton; Robson; Gaudy, A.R.A.; Nicholson; Girtin; De Wint; Fielding; and Prout. London: Printed for Thomas Clay, No 18, Ludgate Hill; By John Hill, Water Lane, Blackfriars. 1820.

The letterpress and plates un-paginated.

The letterpress collates (A)2, B – K4, L2.

This is the second (enlarged) edition, 39 hand-coloured aquatint plates, without the additional lithographed plate called for by Abbey but not Tooley. 9 additional plates were added for the second edition.

“The lithograph is perhaps an experiment on the part of the publishers, for the plate shares one leaf of text with Plate 34, and the imprint is dated almost 12 months later than any of the others” (Abbey).

According to Tooley the First Edition, 1st & 2nd Impressions were issued as oblong quartos and you find these volumes sometimes considerably trimmed. The 1820 enlarged edition was issued upright with the text newly set. This copy, advertised in 1820 as ‘Royal 4to Half Bound’, can be best described as a small folio.

Letterpress Watermarked: J Whatman 1820 in several instances.

Plates with no watermark except ‘J Whatman Turkey Mills 1817’ on one plate.

3 plates proof before letters with pencil descriptions. Plates are choice examples on thick paper.

Untrimmed and bound in the publishers half red Moroccan over card boards, re-backed to style preserving the boards and endpapers. The new spine in six compartments with blind stamped decorations, separated by five double blind ruled raised bands, with a hand stamped contrasting red leather lettering piece in the second compartment. The boards with some scuffing with the corners renewed. Internally the letterpress and plate sheets in a near fine condition, with the odd bit of foxing or stains, and with some light browning to the tips of the outer most uncut leaves.

Compton completed his views during two tour in North Wales in the summer of 1814 & 1815, and they “faithfully represent… striking and beautiful scenes, which are so profusely spread over this interesting portion of the Island, and have been selected… as exhibiting the most characteristic features of the country” (Preface).

The First Edition, 1st Impression was issued in 10 Parts with wrappers in 1817 formatted as an Oblong quarto. The 2nd Impression 1817 – 18 identical except for the imprint on the plates changing was also Issued as an oblong quarto. The second enlarged edition in 1820.

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