Poetical Sketches of Scarborough

London: Printed for R. Ackermann, by J. Diggens, 1813. With Twenty-One Hand-Colored Aquatint Plates

[ROWLANDSON, Thomas, illustrator]. Poetical Sketches of Scarborough: Illustrated by Twenty-One Engravings of Humourous Subjects, Coloured from original Designs, Made Upon the Spot by J. Green, and Etched by T. Rowlandson. London: Printed for R. Ackermann, by J. Diggens, 1813.

First edition. Octavo (9 5/8 x 6 inches; 244 x 152 mm). [4], xv, [1, blank], 215, [1, blank] pp. Twenty-one hand-colored aquatint plates (including frontispiece) with tissue guards.

Early twentieth-century full tan calf by Morell (Stamp-signed on front (truncated) turn-in), covers with triple gilt rules, spine with five raised bands, decoratively tooled in gilt in compartments, two maroon morocco labels lettered in gilt, gilt board edges, and decorative gilt turn-ins, top edge gilt, others uncut. Joints expertly and almost invisibly repaired. Some light foxing / discoloration to a few text leaves, the plates bright and clean. A splendid, and very tall copy. With the armorial book plate of Cortland Bishop and the book-plate of Maxine and Joel Spitz on front paste-down.

“[John Buonarotti Papworth (1775-1847)] wrote fourteen chapters of the Poetical Sketches of Scarborough, a light social satire illustrated with twenty-one attractive plates etched by Rowlandson after J. Green, the aquatint being added by J. Bluck and J.C. Stadler. The Advertisement states that ‘the originals of the plates introduced into this volume were sketches made as souvenirs of the place during a visit to Scarborough in the season of 1812. They were not intended for publication, but being found to interest many persons of taste, several of whom expressed a desire to possess engravings of them; and some gentlemen having offered to add metrical illustrations to each the present form of publication has been adopted. The several authors were not personally acquainted with each other:—if this circumstance, and that of every design having been made previously to the composition of a single couplet, be considered fair ground of extenuation for faults, they claim its advantages.’ Then follows a pleasant account of Scarborough in very amusing doggerel to which [William] Combe was a contributor” (Prideaux, pp. 144-145). Francis Wrangham also contributed four chapters. In the second edition the initials of the contributors were added at the end of each chapter.

"Plate 8 'The Warm Bath' is said to contain the portrait of Mrs. Robinson, George IV's mistress" (Tooley).

Abbey, Scenery, 297. Prideaux, pp. 144-145. Tooley 422. (Inventory #: 03338)