City Scenes; Or A Peep into London for Good Children; By the Author of Rural Scenes
Philadelphia: Pub. by James P. Parke, 1809. Hardcover. Poor. Item #18731
12mo. Original half leather, gilt spine title and rules, marbled paper boards. 26 engraved plates (of 36) with descriptive text. This was first written in 1801 by William Darton, who also drew and engraved the copper plates. In 1806 it was revised by Jane and Ann Taylor with the illustrations drawn and engraved by Jane Taylor. The first edition was in Philadelphia in 1806 (no known copies), followed by this edition of 1809. In 1814 it was published in London after which it went through many reprints.
The binding of this copy is well worn and rubbed and the text with scattered light staining; several early names on the front pastedown, on an early blank, and an 1823 name on the reverse of the title page (the last with some bleed-though to the title). Lacks the front free endpaper, some of the descriptive text (pp.25-26 and 35-48.), and 10 plate pages. In addition plates 29-34 are misbound following plate 43, and plates 68-79 are misbound following plate 83.
Even though incomplete, this is a very rare edition (only 2 copies located in institutions) and the earliest obtainable edition. Welch 436; Rosenbach 407.
Price: $500.00