Pictures of English Landscape, Tom Taylor — 1st Edition

£145.00

Pictures of English Landscape, Tom Taylor — 1st Edition

Name: Pictures of English Landscape, Tom Taylor — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5900
Price: 145.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Routledge, Warne, and Routledge, 1863

Formatting: 4to, pp. [vi], xxx, [ii], plus 30 unnumbered leaves of plates.

Condition Report: Very Good. The publisher's original green cloth binding, heavily decorated in gilt to the spine and boards, is remarkably well-preserved. The gilt tooling remains astonishingly bright and unoxidised, and the cloth shows minimal signs of shelf-wear beyond minor rubbing to the spine extremities and corners. The binding is structurally sound, tight, and square, with the bevelled edges and all-edges-gilt remaining crisp. Internally, however, the volume displays heavy foxing to the preliminary pages, particularly the title page, which is extensively spotted. This foxing continues intermittently throughout the text block and margins of the plates; fortunately, the main engraved images themselves remain largely unobscured. Ultimately, this is a beautiful, sturdy exterior housing a slightly foxed, but fully intact, interior.

Catalogue Note: This is a true 1863 first edition of Myles Birket Foster's masterpiece, a defining work of Victorian wood-engraved illustration. Showcasing thirty exquisite rural scenes engraved by the renowned Dalziel Brothers, this volume is a prime example of the high Victorian 'gift book'. The volume features the publisher's spectacular, richly gilt-blocked cloth binding, synonymous with the lavish production values of the 1860s.

Of particular note is the prominent armorial bookplate to the front paste-down belonging to William Tipping, Esq. (1816–1897), of Brasted Park, Kent. Tipping was a wealthy railway magnate, Conservative Member of Parliament, and a noted antiquarian collector. His residence at Brasted Park is historically notable for having once served as a retreat for Louis Napoleon (Napoleon III).

While copies of the 1863 first edition are occasionally encountered on the open market, they are seldom found with the original cloth and gilt decoration in such bright, unrestored condition, making this a highly desirable addition for collectors of Victorian illustration and binding design.

A cornerstone of Victorian book illustration, Pictures of English Landscape unites the idyllic, pastoral vision of Myles Birket Foster with the masterful wood-engraving skills of the Dalziel Brothers. Accompanied by "pictures in words" from dramatist and critic Tom Taylor, the book offers a nostalgic, romanticised window into the rural life of 19th-century England. Featuring thirty detailed scenes of harvest fields, tranquil streams, and resting peasants, the work captures the essence of a bygone countryside. Presented in a sumptuous, gilt-laden binding, it exemplifies the very best of Victorian bookmaking and artistic collaboration.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Tom Taylor

Book Publisher: Routledge, Warne, and Routledge

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Art & Architecture

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages:

Book Publication Year: 1863

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Myles Birket Foster

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.