Description:
First Edition. Small folio (37*26.5cm), bound in half calf, re-backed with original spine laid down, hand-coloured aquatint frontispiece and 40 plates by R. and D.Havell after George Walker, text in English and French, 96 pp.Printed by T. Bensley, Bolt Court, Fleet Street, London for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, Paternoster Row; Ackermann, Strand; and Robinson, Son and Holdsworth, Leeds. 1814.Some wear to the binding, light spotting to the front and rear blanks, else a fine example.
The illustrations in this work are an important historical record as they have become iconic depictions of the English working classes. The illustrations associated with the production of textiles at the start of the industrial age are particularly notable. Some of the subjects covered in this work include: local trades such as farmers, factory children and jockies.
Plate III "The Collier" is famous as it depicts in the background the first representation of a steam-engine on rails. In the image, the… Read More