A Bibliographical Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany.
London: W. Bulmer and W. Nicol, Shakespeare Press, and Sold by Payne and Foss, Longman, Hurst and Co. J. and A. Arch, R. H. Evans, R. Triphook, and John Major, 1821.
3 vols., large thick 8vo, (iv), xxv, (xxvi blank), [v] vi blank], 462, lxxix+(i), index; (iv), 555+(1); (iv), 392.297-622, lxii pp (lacking half-titles). 83 plates (incl. portraits; 1 color, 2 sepia, & 5 double-page) & 63 smaller illus. in the text, some on India paper, mounted. Finely bound by Tout in full polished calf with triple gilt fillet, richly gilt backstrip with green labels, gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Vols. 1 and 3 rehinged, tips bumped. Plates occasionally foxed but in general a very good copy internally with the bookplates of renowned M.D. J.A. Knowles Renshaw in each vol. and the very faded signature of (?) Mrs Boolys, July 1821 on each title-page.
§ First edition, regular paper issue; first state of vol. 1 p. 27 and p.95 vol. 3. One of a very few books by Dibdin that went into a second edition. "The collation is very irregular by reason of the fact that all illustrations in the text, being printed on India paper pasted-in, are on separately inserted leaves ... This Voyage Pittoresque is lavishly illustrated, mainly with copperplates after drawings by G.R. Lewis and others. Dibdin says he spent over 7000 pounds on the book, being the first patron to pay 100 guineas for a plate ... It has been unkindly said of this book that it would have been better without any text. However, it does contain a modicum of bibliographical information that is still useful if used with due caution" (Jackson). Lowndes notes that it "contains much useful and curious information" on the libraries and private collections of Europe. The second edition of 1829 is abridged and omits all but 5 of the original plates. Jackson 48. Windle & Pippin A38a and A44. Item #124670
Price: $2,500.00