A Collection of Various Forms of Stoves,

First edition and a very attractive copy, the plates fresh.

William Robertson was born in Kilkenny in 1770, and was likely the son or a close connection of the nurseryman William Robertson, who traded as "William Robertson and Son". He had some early training from the landscape and topographical artist George Holmes and was awarded a silver medal for drawing by the Dublin Society in 1795. 'In 1796, 1797 and 1798 he was in England, possibly working in the office of a London architect'. His notebook of the period 'shows clearly that his main interests were architecture and gardening. He had a London address when he exhibited two views of Kilkenny and a design for the garden front of a villa at the Royal Academy in 1797 and 1798 respectively. He is almost certainly the "W. Robertson" who was the author of two works published by Ackermann in London at about this time', the present work and and Designs in Architecture, For Garden Chairs, Small Gates for Villas, Park Entrances, Aviarys, Temples, Boat Houses, Mausoleums, and Bridges (1800) (Irish Architectural Archive, Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720-1940).

First edition; large 4to (34.5 x 28 cm), 24 aquatint plates of which 22 include hand-colouring, short repaired split in the margin of plate XI, some faint offsetting and the occasional light spot, but overall contents clean; recently rebound to style in quarter speckled calf with marble sides, endpapers renewed, an excellent copy.

Abbey Life 62; Colvin p.823.