Comforts of Bath.

£4,500 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

One of Rowlandson's rarest works depicting satirical scenes set in Bath. These 12 plates were designed to illustrate Anstey's New Bath Guide but were not used and never issued with a text (Abbey). Neither Tooley or Abbey call for a title page. Each of the 12 plates have signatures, while Tooley and Abbey sets vary. First edition; 4to (29.5 x 23 cm); 12 hand-coloured aquatint plates, loose within plate album, armorial bookplate to front pastedown, some light spotting not affecting legibility of the images, very good examples; later full calf album, turn-ins gilt rolled, all edges gilt, a little rubbed and scuffed. Abbey (Scenery), 40; Prideaux p350; Tooley 408.

• Binding: Hardcover

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