Lot 198: Samuel and Nathaniel Buck VIEWS ... IN THE PRINCIPALITY OF WALES. 1740-1742

BUCK, Samuel (1696-1779) and Nathaniel BUCK (fl. 1724-1759). To the Noble & Generous Encouragers of this work by Subscription this first [second, third] Sett of Twenty four views as Follows in the Principality of Wales. London: S. & N. Buck, 1740-1742. 80 Welsh views constituting a 'national survey of ruins of the period, and ... an indispensable record of what ... Welsh towns looked like before the industrial revolution' (ODNB). Samuel Buck started his career as an artist making sketches of Yorkshire that were intended to illustrate a county topography. In 1720, he published proposals for two large engravings of Leeds and Wakefield which were the first in a series of 10 views of English towns printed on two sheets. Moving to London, Samuel started to work closely with the Society of Antiquaries, generating subscribers for further projects illustrating 'antiquities', and these proved to be a commercial success. By the mid 1720s, Samuel had ambitious plans to systematically record ruins throughout England. His brother, Nathaniel, was engaged with this project from the start, and he accompanied Samuel on his tours of the English counties. Starting with the northern counties, by the 1730s they were covering the south of England, before culminating with these final three 'Setts' of Welsh views which completed the 'antiquities'. 3 parts in one volume, oblong folio (279 x 450mm), the section devoted to Wales, complete. 3 engraved titles and 80 engraved plates (the plates to the 3rd part bound out of number sequence, occasional very faint spotting mostly confined to margins). Contemporary mottled calf, covers with gilt-tooled cornerpieces, gilt spine with two red morocco gilt lettering-pieces, marbled endpapers, red edges (extremities rubbed, joints splitting but holding, head- and tailcaps defective).