The History of the Abbey Church of St. Peter's Westminster, Its Antiquities and Monuments by Ackermann, Rudolph - 1812

Ackermann, Rudolph and William Combe (text)

HISTORY OF THE ABBEY CHURCH OF ST. PETER'S WESTMINSTER; ITS ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS

London: R. Ackermann, 1812. First Edition. 1/2 Calf. THE HISTORY OF THE ABBEY CHURCH OF ST. PETER'S WESTMINSTER; ITS ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTSAckermann, Rudolph and William Combe (text)Published by R. Ackermann, London, 1812First Edition. Volume I. xviii, 330, [6 Index at rear of vol I.], Volume II. [4], 275 [276 blank], [4 Index] pages. Collated and complete with all eighty-three aquatint plates. Frontispiece portrait of William Vincent and plan of Westminster are uncolored as indicated in Abbey #213. Illustrated [by F. Mackenzie, A. Pugin, J. Bluck, T. Uwins, G. Shepherd, J. Hamble, T. Sutherland and others]. 13.5 inches tall by 11 inches. Frontispiece is uncolored engraving of William Vincent. Missing ½ titles and frontice of Aymer De Valance, with slight remains of off setting from that plate.
Bound in ½ calf recent re-back and corners onto old boards. Paper repair… Read More

London: Printed for R. Ackermann by L. Harrison and J. C. Leigh,, 1812. Britain's national church in Regency colour plate First edition of this splendidly illustrated survey of Westminster Abbey, visually perhaps the finest publication on the building, issued by Rudolph Ackermann, the greatest publisher of colour books and prints of the age. The designs were produced by several leading artists, the text written by William Combe (renowned as author of Doctor Syntax), and the book subscribed to by most of the royal family and aristocracy. "It is a book which should be highly rated both as an exhaustive pictorial record of the Abbey and for its individual architectural plates, beautifully composed and aquatinted with the addition of discreet colour just sufficient to suggest the cloistered intimacy of sunlight filtered by lofty windows onto fretted stone, wood and metal" (Adams, p. 250). 2 volumes, quarto (334 x 278 mm). Early 20th-century green half straight-grain roan by Morrell, spines lettered in… Read More

London: Printed For R. Ackermann, By L.Harrison & J.C.Leigh, 1812., 1812. 4to. pp. xviii, [2]plate list, 330, [6]index; 2 p.l., 275, [4]index. complete with list of subscribers & half-titles wanting. 1 engraved plan, 1 engraved portrait, 1 hand-coloured line engraving, & 80 hand-coloured aquatint plates (incl. frontis. & title) by J.Bluck, J.Hamble, T.Sutherland, & others after A.Pugin, F.Mackenzie, H.Villiers, T.Uwins, &c. contemporary calf, rebacked with gilt spines mounted, all edges gilt (spine ends & joints rubbed, plates offset, scattered foxing - generally light & occasional light embrowning). First Edition, First Issue. Tooley 2. Abbey, Scenery, 213. Prideaux p. 331.. F. Hardcover.

London: R. Ackermann, 1812. First Edition, second issue. Near fine. In Two volumes, large 4to; 12 3/4 x 10 3/4 in. (325 x 272 mm), with all 83 plates, 81 of which are colored aquatints by J.Bluck, J.Hamble, T.Sutherland and others, after A.Pugin, F.Mackenzie, H.Villiers, T.Uwins, &c. Includes the half-titles; list of subscribers and arrangement of plates. Vol. 1 pp. xx + 330 + vi index, and 4 plates-2 colored aquatint plates and 2 uncolored engravings of a) floorpan b) portrait of William Vincent, Dean of Westminster opposite the dedication page. Vol. 2 pp. 275 +iv index, 79 colored aquatints. Hands binding in navy crushed morocco by Doverley and Sons, with gilt fillets and decorations on cover, scrolls on turn-ins. Spine gilt with decorations and floral patterns, gilt title and date, 5 double raised bands with four red bands; gilt decorations on edges, marbled end-papers, a.e.g. Some light offset from the plates and foxing only on the letterpress for one gathering towards the end of Vol. 2, not… Read More

London: For R. Ackerman, 1812. 2 volumes. First edition and First Issue, originally issued in 16 monthly parts. A copy with pleasing provenance. Illustrated with 81 magnificent hand-coloured aquatint plates of views of Westminster Abbey and an egraved portrait of William Vincent and a floor plan of the Abbey. Large 4to, handsomely bound in fine red morocco, the spines with wide gilt decorated and gilt ruled raised bands creating the compartments, two compartments gilt lettered and ruled, the covers with triple gilt fillet rules at the borders, turnovers tooled in blind, all edges gilt., armorial bookplates of George Dunn of Wooley Hall and Arthur John Dorman. xviii, 330, [6]; 275, [4] pp. A very handsome and pleasing set, the plates clean and bright and in an excellent state, the bindings strong and firm, some inevitable offsetting from plates to text as usual, the text leaves with some very occasional light spotting as normal. FIRST EDITION OF THIS TRULY GRAND WORK BRILLIANTLY BOUND AND… Read More