Lectures on the Art of Engraving, John Landseer — 1st Edition

£145.00

Lectures on the Art of Engraving, John Landseer — 1st Edition

Name: Lectures on the Art of Engraving, John Landseer — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5914
Price: 145.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, 1807

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [ii], xxxviii, 341.

Condition Report: Very Good. The contemporary full calf binding remains impressively tight and secure. Both the upper and lower boards feature elegant gilt and blind-tooled borders, which retain much of their original definition despite some moderate rubbing and surface wear. The spine, complete with raised bands and gilt lettering, shows minor chipping and loss at the head and foot, along with mild rubbing to the joints, yet remains structurally sound without any splitting. Internally, the text block is pleasingly firm. The pages exhibit scattered foxing and age-toning, particularly to the preliminary leaves and margins, though the text itself is largely clean and thoroughly legible. A small 'WITHDRAWN' stamp and minor scuffing are present on the front pastedown, and a neat, early ownership signature graces the front flyleaf. Overall, an honest and well-preserved copy.

Catalogue Note: This first edition is a culturally significant text in the history of British printmaking. John Landseer (1769–1852), an accomplished line engraver and the father of the famed Victorian painter Sir Edwin Landseer, delivered these lectures at the Royal Institution. Within them, he notably campaigned for the intellectual elevation of his craft and for engravers to be admitted to full Royal Academy membership.

Though entirely unillustrated, the work offers a rich philosophical and technical history of the art form, touching upon the varied modes of operation and specific material use, such as copper and lead. The present copy features a handsome contemporary binding. The withdrawal stamp indicates prior institutional housing, though it lacks any further heavy library markings.

True 1807 editions in their original or contemporary bindings are increasingly scarce on the open market, making this an appealing survival for collectors of printing history.

Lectures on the Art of Engraving is a passionate and historical exploration of printmaking by John Landseer, an accomplished engraver to the King. Originally delivered as a series of discourses at the Royal Institution of Great Britain, this work advocates for the intellectual and artistic elevation of engraving, famously defining it as a species of sculpture performed by incision. Landseer’s detailed technical and philosophical insights provide a crucial window into the Regency-era art world and the ongoing battle for printmakers to receive full academic recognition.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: John Landseer

Book Publisher: Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Art & Architecture

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 381

Book Publication Year: 1807

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Full Calf

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.