434. Westall (William) and Samuel Owen. Picturesque Tour of the River Thames, first edition , hand-coloured aquatint title-vignette and vignette tail-piece at end, 24 hand-coloured aquatint plates, folding engraved map, occasional light foxing and offsetting, later red/pink calf, gilt, spine gilt in compartments with raised bands, [Abbey, Scenery 435; Tooley 503], 4to, R.Ackermann, 1828.
est. £2500 – £3500
A fine copy.
"The scenery of the river Thames afforded material for several books, all very attractive in their different ways. Perhaps the finest is the Picturesque Tour of the River Thames, published by Ackermann, the joint-production of W. Westall, who executed nineteen plates and S. Owen, who is responsible for two vignettes and five plates, showing the open part of the Thames from Southwark to Sheerness. Like so many of Ackermann's publications the book appeared in instalments, and was complete in six monthly parts. Fifteen of the engravings are by R.G. Reeve, the rest being by C. Bentley, J. Bailey, and J. Fielding. Two tints are used for the printing, notably a bright blue for the sky. The vignettes are very beautiful, and show how especially suitable aquatint is for the purpose" Prideaux, pp. 268-269.