Edward Wedlake Brayley & John Britton: 'The Beauties of Engl...

Hammer

£150

Edward Wedlake Brayley & John Britton: 'The Beauties of England and Wales; Or, Delineations Topographical, Historical and Descriptive, of Each County. Embellished with Engravings.', London, Vernor, Hood et al, 1807-1812, 16 volumes, 406 engraved plates topographical and architectural scenes, country houses and estates, abbeys, cathedrals etc, comprising vol. 1 Cambs., Cheshire, Cornwall; vol. 3 Cumbria & Derbyshire; vol. 5 Durham, Essex & Gloucestershire; vol. 7 Herts. & Hunts.; vol. 9 Lancs., Leicestershire, Lincs.; vol. 10 (in 3 volumes) Middlesex & London; vol. 11 Monmouthshire, Norfolk & Northants.; vol. 12 (in 2 volumes) Northumberland, Notts., Oxfordshire & Rutlandshire; vol. 13 (in 2 volumes) Shropshire, Somerset & Staffordshire; vol. 15 (in 2 volumes) Westmorland, Wiltshire & Warwickshire; vol. 16 Yorkshire, uniform contemporary calf gilt (worn), several volumes with boards loose, lacking parts of backstrips. An impressively thorough work, the most ambitious of its kind since Magna Britannia et Hibernia (1720-1731). Originally conceived as a more modest publication, it became an intensive and occasionally fraught project. In 1800, the publishers Vernor and Hood proposed to Britton that he produce six volumes of topographical commentary. He and Brayley had become friends as teenagers and had already collaborated successfully oin a literary endeavour. They embarked on a walking tour of thousands of miles for these initial volumes, for which they shared credit evenly. At this point, Brayley was predominantly occupied with the text, while Britton was "the organizing genius throughout" (ODNB), overseeing the travel, correspondence, sourcing of materials, and managing the illustrations. When the series ran to further volumes, the two men divided responsibility for certain counties. By the time the survey was complete, it had cost some £50,000, and "a whole school of artists and engravers had grown up under Britton's direction: Samuel Prout and Frederick Mackenzie, John and Henry Le Keux, Edward Blore, George Cattermole, R. W. Billings, and Henry Shaw" (ODNB). (16)