The Tourist in Italy, Thomas Roscoe — 1st Edition

£175.00

The Tourist in Italy, Thomas Roscoe — 1st Edition

Name: The Tourist in Italy, Thomas Roscoe — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5926
Price: 175.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Robert Jennings and William Chaplin, 1831

Formatting: 8vo, pp. vi, [ii], 271, [1].

Condition Report: Very Good. The book is presented in its original publisher's dark green pebble-grain morocco, remaining remarkably tight and structurally sound for its age. The blind-stamped panelling to the boards is crisp and unrubbed, while the gilt lettering to the spine remains bright and clearly legible. There is some minor, expected shelf-wear, primarily consisting of light rubbing to the headcap and the very tips of the corners, though this does not detract from the handsome exterior. All text block edges are fully gilt and retain a strong, unbroken sheen. Internally, the binding is firm, holding the text block securely without any cracked hinges. The pages are generally clean with the expected mild foxing and toning, largely confined to the plate margins and preliminary leaves. The blank flyleaf bears a neat, mid-nineteenth-century ownership inscription in ink with a small patch of paper abrasion directly beneath it, though the engraved title page and frontispiece are wonderfully well-preserved. Overall, it is a highly attractive and resilient copy of a delicate nineteenth-century annual.

Catalogue Note: This is the first edition of this instalment of the highly successful Landscape Annual series. The volume is profusely illustrated, complete with twenty-six finely detailed steel-engraved plates, including a beautiful frontispiece and a vignette architectural title page, all executed from original drawings by the celebrated English watercolourist Samuel Prout.

The book retains a factual and charming piece of provenance on the front free endpaper, bearing a neat ink inscription: "H. Jordan / September 1858 / the gift of a friend".

While individual volumes of this annual are occasionally found on the market, locating an unsophisticated copy still firmly bound in the publisher's original morocco leather without heavy restoration is becoming increasingly uncommon.

A quintessential example of early nineteenth-century travel literature, The Tourist in Italy offers a sweeping, romanticised window into the landscapes, architecture, and culture of the Grand Tour. Combining Thomas Roscoe's evocative, well-researched prose with Samuel Prout's masterful topographical engravings, the volume was designed to transport the Victorian armchair traveller directly to the sun-drenched altars, ruins, and coastlines of the Mediterranean. It remains a fascinating historical artefact of Britain's enduring literary and artistic infatuation with Italy.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Thomas Roscoe

Book Publisher: Robert Jennings and William Chaplin

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Travel, Exploration & Adventure

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 271

Book Publication Year: 1831

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Full Morocco

Illustrator: Samuel Prout

Book Series: The Landscape Annual

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.