Lot 268: The Border Antiquities of England and Scotland;

The Border Antiquities of England and Scotland; Comprising Specimens of Architecture and Sculpture, and Other Vestiges of Former Ages, Accompanied by Descriptions. Together with Illustrations of Remarkable Incidents in Border History and Tradition, and Original Poetry 2 vols. [ii], cxxvii, [1]-92; [93]-209, [2 (List of Plates)], ci (appendices), [12(Index)] pp. Illustrated with 95 copper-engraved plates, including the engraved added pictorial title-pages and frontispieces; all engraved by John Greig after drawings by Luke Clennell and others, printed on India paper, and mounted on heavy paper. (Folio) 15x10 3/4, period half brown morocco and marbled boards, spine tooled and lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt. First Edition, Large Paper Issue. Special large-paper issue with the mounted India-paper proof plates. Sir Walter Scott's long introduction is a fascinating historical survey of the region along the frontier between Scotland and England. He evidently had little hand in the text accompanying the fine, atmospheric plates; but it too is full of drama and bloodshed. The engraver, John Greig, was something of a specialist in topography. Most of the ancient castles, churches, houses and relics were depicted by Luke Clennell (1781-1840), who had started out as a wood-engraver and as one of Thomas Bewick's outstanding pupils. His success with the watercolor sketches for this work led him to become a full-time painter. His early success in that field was unfortunately blighted by madness. Includes the publisher's promotional label on the front pastedown of Volume I, stating that the work contains 98 plates and gives the price for this oversized format as 26 pounds, 15 shillings.

1814-[1817]

Covers and extremities rubbed; considerable offsetting from plates onto text leaves (rarely affecting the plates), occasional foxing, modern armorial bookplates (evidence of one removed); still a nice and sturdy set, very good or better.

Place: London
Publisher: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown