A Series of Picturesque Views on the River Thames.

The very scarce second issue of a work originally published in 1812 by R. Havell, and one of the finest aquatint books ever produced. The plates show views of the Thames between Oxford and Staines, including Maidenhead and Windsor Castle, with working river craft. The composition of the images is particularly arresting, with the viewpoint often looking directly up the river and the perspective shifting between the foreground and background. The watercolour painter William Havell and the engraver Robert were cousins. The 1812 edition is virtually unknown outside institutional libraries.

Large folio (57.5 x 45 cm); hand-coloured aquatint title and 12 fine hand-coloured aquatint views on card with buff wash borders by Robert Havell after William Havell, each with original tissue guards, a touch of offsetting to frontispiece but rest of plates bright and unaffected; contemporary half straight-grained morocco, marbled boards a little rubbed and darkened towards edges, spine lettered in gilt in seven compartments, spine a little darkened, a very good copy.

Abbey Scenery 433; cf. Tooley 255; Prideaux p265; Hardie p141.