Typographie

First edition, 4to, [2],90pp., lithographed throughout wove paper watermarked "Whatman 1820", inscribed "E. H. Grimston from his affectionate aunt Harriot Grimston Oct 13th 1840", Edward H. Grimston was the second son of the author, and Harriot her sister-in-law, lithographed portrait frontispiece of the author on india-proof paper, title within decorative border, 9 lithographed plates and plans, one etched plate, 11 lithographed armorials in the margins, some light spotting, contemporary half morocco,upper joint split. "Probably the earliest [British] topographical book with its text lithographed... the most striking feature of the book is the discrepancy between the assurance of the writing of the main text and the naivety of the drawings..."?Twyman, Early Lithographed Books, pp. 179-180. Twyman suggests that Charlotte Grimston (wife of the first earl of Verulam who owned Gorhambury) was responsible for the views and plans, but employed a professional lithographic writer for the text. Martin, Privately Printed Books, pp.342-43.