STATISTICAL SURVEY OF THE COUNTY OF LONDONDERRY, WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE MEANS OF IMPROVEMENT; DRAWN UP FOR THE CONSIDERATION, AND UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE DUBLIN SOCIETY

Dublin, Ireland: Graisberry and Campbell, 1802. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good Plus. Octavo, 8.5 in. x 5 in., pp. xxiii, [3], 509, [1], 1-42 (appendix); [17] leaves of plates. Illlustrated with hand-colored frontispiece map of County Londonderry (15.5 in x 17.5 in.) and sixteen additional engravings, twelve of which fold-out. Gilt-ruled quarter-calf over marbled boards. Gilt title to black and burgundy panels, and gilt bars, to rebacked spine. Top panel of spine has publisher's gilt emblem from original spine. Marbled edges. Rubbing to extremities. Bottom corners are nudged. Previous owner's bookplate ("Carton Library") and pasted library-location note to front pastedown. Light foxing to title page and occasinal spots throughout. Pages and plates are bright. Plates are in very good plus condition. Engravings include: Map of County Londonderry, Parishes/Incumbents/etc., View of Ben-Yevenagh, View of the Schistose Ridge, View of the Succession of Balsaltic Promontories, View of Stratified and Fallen Rock at Valley of the Foyle, Parnassia Palustris (plant), View of Londonderry, Map of Londonderry, Opah or King Fish, View of Ballyscullion, S. West View of Down Hill, Description of Londonderry Town, Map of Londonderry as besieged in 1688, Monument of Cooly-na-Gall (with laid-in tissueguard), Church of Dungiven, View of the Sepulchral Pillar.

Statistical Survey of The County of Londonderry by Reverend G. Vaughan Sampson was published in 1802. At the time the United Kingdom had recently been created in the Act of Union 1800, a year later war would recommence with France while the industrial revolution had just begun. The Dublin Society produced a series of surveys of the counties of Ireland to create a snapshot of the state of their agriculture, industry, topography, geography, politics, government, religion, living conditions and much more. (from Ask About Ireland)

The Carton Library bookplate refers to the library of the Dukes of Leinster, a title in the Peerage of Ireland and the premier dukedom in that peerage. The family was originally based in Maynooth Castle in County Kildare. In later centuries the family owned estates in Waterford with their country residence being a Georgian house called Carton House which had replaced the castle in County Kildare. In Dublin, the Earl built a large townhouse residence on the southside of Dublin called Kildare House. When the Earl was awarded a dukedom and became Duke of Leinster, the house was renamed Leinster House. One of its occupants was Lord Edward FitzGerald, who became an icon for Irish nationalism through his involvement with the Irish Rebellion of 1798, which ultimately cost him his life.