Dibdin

102852 — London: Arch Triphook and Major 1823. Roy. 8vo t/p list of plates directions for placing the plates engraved dedication advertisement: i.e. 7 1 1-15 pp. 60 illustrations on 52 plates on India paper numbered 1-60. Old polished calf rebacked retaining the original backstrip. Occasional slight spotting generally very good. § A pleasant copy of the volume of engravings that were intended to accompany Dibdin’s A Bibliographical Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany but were famously rejected by Dibdin as unworthy of his book -- hence Lewis issued them himself. He alludes gently to this in the preface but mostly adds commentary to the illustrations here presented. “Lewis presents his case in an eight-page 'Advertisement' separately printed NUC locates only the Harvard copy and W.A. Jackson knew of one other but Korey has located many more including variants. Dibdin refrained from consigning his views to print although he voiced his feelings freely; he did though in his Reminiscences II 685 record his judgment that A Series of Groups 'are clever but they are coarse . I never wish to see them mixed up with their precursors ie. the illustrations for the published Tour - without the slightest personal feeling upon the subject but only from their own distinct individual character; they are a thing apart and should be kept apart.'†The 60 illustrations depict people from across the social spectrum including many uncommon scenes and are perhaps interesting for the same reasons Dibdin found them coarse. Jackson 56. Windle and Pippin A44. Arch unknown books