I have been in the rare and antiquarian book business for over forty years; my family has been in the rare books business since 1876. Rare books are in my blood.
World in Miniature, The
London: R. Ackermann, 1816. Item #02632
From the Original Parts, With All Wrappers
ROWLANDSON, Thomas. The World in Miniature, Consisting of a Group of Figures for the Illustration of Landscape, Scenery. Drawn and Etched by T. Rowlandson. London: R. Ackermann, 1816.
First edition, from the original eight parts without title-page as issued. Quarto (11 1/4 x 8 1/2 in; 288 x 216 mm). Forty etched plates numbered 1-40 mounted into windowed sheets, with interleaves, with most trimmed within plate mark to plate number or imprint.
Bound by Samuel Tout (stamp-signed) c. 1867-69 in later full crushed crimson morocco with triple fillets and gilt corner pieces. Gilt ruled and decorated compartments. Broad turn-ins with elegant gilt decoration. Gilt-rolled edges. Top edge gilt. Joints very lightly rubbed. Original green printed wrappers to each part tipped-in at rear.
Copies in the original parts are excessively scarce; the book edition bound from the parts and issued with letterpress title dated 1817 is more readily seen.
Victorian binder Samuel Tout worked out of Nassau Street in Soho, London 1868-79. He then partnered with William Coward in a bindery in Whitechapel but in 1880 continued on his own in the same location.
Cf. Tooley 437.
Price: $3,750.00