SHAKESPEARE COUNTRY BEFORE THE SCANDAL

Ireland, Samuel (1774-1800)

Picturesque Views on the Upper, or Warwickshire Avon...[1795 First Edition] [Full Burgundy Morocco] [29 Aquatints + Map]

London: R. Faulder and T. Egerton, 1795. First Edition, First Printing.
THE BOOK THAT SET THE STAGE FOR A SCANDAL.
A stunning, Gift Quality first edition of Samuel Ireland’s topographical tour of the River Avon. 

While primarily celebrated for its 29 exquisite sepia aquatint plates, this volume holds a notorious place in literary history. It was during the research for this book in Stratford-upon-Avon that Ireland’s son, William Henry, began discovering the forged Shakespearean manuscripts that would eventually lead to one of the greatest literary frauds in history.

KEY FEATURES
+++ Binding: Newly rebound in Full Burgundy Leather with elegant gilt-tooled double fillet borders and floral-decorated spine bands; black leather title label.
+++ Illustrations: Complete with an aquatint extra-title, 29 full-page aquatint plates, 2 portraits, a folding map of the Avon’s course, and various in-text woodcuts.
+++ The Spicy Narrative: Includes Ireland’s unvarnished observations of 18th-century life, including a local brothel and a village where "favors" were famously traded for gingerbread.
+++ Literary Connection: Features early depictions of Shakespearean landmarks like New Place and Ann Hathaway’s Cottage as they appeared in the 1790s.

CONDITION: Fine [Rebound] -- A spectacular  copy. The leather is supple and flawless. The text block is lightly toned with only minimal offset from the plates. New endpapers. All plates are present and bright, despite a minor 18th-century printer's error in the placement of two plates (p. 243 and p. 250). Gift Quality.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE --
Samuel Ireland was a weaver-turned-engraver who became obsessed with Shakespeare. This work is a primary record of the "Stratfordian" industry in its infancy. Ireland is best remembered today as the tragic dupe of his son’s forgeries; he died defending the authenticity of the Shakespeare papers his son had actually forged in their home. This volume represents Ireland at the height of his career, before the scandal broke his reputation and his spirit.

SUBJECTS: 18th Century Travel, British Topography, Shakespeareana, Aquatints, Literary Forgery, River Avon, Samuel Ireland, Fine Bindings, Illustrated Books.

Item #21612

Price: $450.00