Picturesque Tour of the River Thames
London: R. Ackermann, 1828. Item #06713
One of Only "A Few" Large Paper Copies
Earliest Issue with the "Twickenham Blotches"
WESTALL (William) and Samuel OWEN. Picturesque Tour of the Thames. Illustrated by Twenty-Four Coloured Views, a Map, and Vignettes, from Original Drawings Taken on the Spot by William Westall and Samuel Owen. London: R. Ackermann, 1828.
Large Paper Copy. First edition, first issue plates (with two spots of discoloration in the sky on the Twickenham plate).
Folio (16 3/4 x 12 7/8 inches; 425 x 327 mm.). [ii], Vignette title, verso blank; iii-iv], Preface; [v-vi], Contents/List of Plates. [1]-169, [1, blank], [2, index] pp. Twenty-four hand-colored aquatint plates, two hand-colored aquatint vignettes, and double-page folding engraved map. Plates watermarked J. Whatman 1827 & 1828; Text watermarked 1820 & 1828; Most plates with light offsetting from opposite text, mainly to sky areas, most noticeable on plate nos. 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 17, 21, & 24. Some very occasional light foxing to text leaves, most noticeable on the two-page index at end.
Elegantly bound by Zaehnsdorf (c. late 1960s, stamp-signed) in three-quarter green morocco over green cloth boards ruled in gilt, spine with four raised bands elaborately decorated and lettered in gilt in compartments, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, others uncut.
Of particular importance is the presence of the two small spots in the sky of the Twickenham view, the well-known "Twickenham blotches." Caused by a flaw in the aquatint process and corrected in later printings, these marks provide one of the principal issue points for the earliest state of the work. Their survival here confirms that the plates were printed before correction and places this copy among the very first examples issued to subscribers.
An exceptional example of the Large-Paper Issue - the tallest we have ever seen in over sixty years of specializing in fine color-plate books.
Note: The Abbey copy (#435) measured 15 7/8 x 12 3/8 inches; 403 x 314 mm.).
ABPC reports only four Large Paper Copies at auction within the last fifty years, in 1992, 1998, 2012 (14 15/16 x 11 13/16 inches; 380 x 300 mm.). and 2020 (15 3/4 x 12 inches; 400 x 305 mm.). However all of these copies were at least one full inch shorter than the present example.
"Issued in 6 monthy parts in paper wrappers, and on completion in volume form... in boards. A few copies were done on large paper" (Tooley).
"The scenery of the river Thames afforded material for several books, all very attractive in their different ways. Perhaps the finest is the Picturesque Tour of the River Thames [our emphasis],.. the joint-production of W. Westall, who executed nineteen plates, and S. Owen, who is responsible for two vignettes and five plates, showing the open part of the Thames from Southwark to Sheerness. Like so many of Ackermann's publications the book appeared in installments, and was complete in six monthly parts… Fifteen of the engravings are by R.G. Reeve, the rest being by C. Bentley, J. Bailey, and J. Fielding. Two tints are used for the printing, notably a bright blue for the sky… The vignettes… are very beautiful, and show how especially suitable aquatint is for the purpose." (Prideaux).
Tooley 503. Abbey, Scenery 435. Prideaux pp. 268-269.
Price: $9,500.00