Tour of the Isle of Wight Drawings Taken and Engraved by J Hassell Dedicated by Permission to His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence In Two Volumes

Description

Hassell, J[ohn], Tour of the Isle of Wight. The Drawings Taken and Engraved by J. Hassell. Dedicated, by permission, to His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence. In Two Volumes. London, John Jarvis, for Thomas Hookham in New Bond-Street, 1790.

Bound for a Knight of the Garter. The backs of both volumes are decorated with the Garter motto: “Honi soit qui mal y pense” enclosing the rampant Lion of England  and a coronet, surmounted by a  second coronet. These books were likely bound for William Henry, Prince of Brunswick-Luneburg (1765-1837), Duke of Clarence and St. Andrew, to whom John Hassell dedicated this two volume title.

Collation, 8vo: [Vol. I: 2 blanks; protective leaf; engraved title-page with the Duke’s arms; printed title-page is a1; a list of additional names follows after the alphabetized list of subscribers, inserted between c2 and c3; a1-c2; i; c3-c4; (B-I)4, (K-U)4, (X)4, (Z)4, (Aa – Ff)4; 2 blanks]; [Vol. II: 2 blanks; engraved title-page with the Duke’s arms; printed title-page is a1; (a)4, (B – I)4, (K – U)4, (X –Z)4, (Aa – Ii)4, 2 blanks]. Vol. I: 25 cm. x 18.5 cm; Vol. II 25 cm. x 19 cm. (Abbey’s measurements for this title were 8 1/8 in x 5 3/8 in. This copy is 9 ¾ in x 7 3/8 in. Noted on the list of subscribers and the subscribers’ addendum are orders for only 11 large paper copies, of which this is one.

Bound in full straight-grain red morocco, front and back covers of both volumes are ruled in blind in gold, spines of both volumes ruled in gold in seven compartments: 1, 4, and 7 are empty. The title is in compartment 2, the Garter Arms in 3 and volume number in 5. Page edges of both volumes are gilt-edged all around.

Volume I has 17 aquatint plates, and Vol. II has 13 aquatint plates. Abbey 342; Prideaux p.339; Martin-Hardie p. 120. ESTC T146706 (An impression of the same setting of type was used for a quarto format.) Spines show sunning and some flecking, the engraved title-pages of both volumes are slightly foxed. The other pages are bright and fresh. A fine copy in a beautiful eighteenth century binding with a royal provenance.

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