Kip, Joannes.

4 volumes, folio (540 x 360mm.), titles printed in red and black, one additional engraved title (in volume 4), 256 engraved plates (of 261, but see footnote), comprising approximately 12 double-page and folding, 211 double page, and 33 single-page, text and plates mounted throughout on guards, nineteenth-century mottled calf gilt in eighteenth-century style by J. Wright, centrepiece on each cover with initials "M.A.S.", without 5 plates called for in vol.3 (Carte d'Angleterre, Jardins [de Wentworth], Argile House, Chateau de Schoon, Chateau de Roy et Gicht), occasional mainly minor defects (e.g. spotting and soiling to title vol.1 and 2, cropping to Lulworth, London Bridge and Kensington Palace in vol.3, last 2 plates creased in vol.3, tears and repairs to plates of St. Paul's, Oxford and Bangor in vol.4), rebacked retaining original spines, spines slightly rubbed and darkened

"M.A.S." initials on covers; Charles George Milnes Gaskell (1842-1919), bookplate; Lord Brocket, sale of the Library of Brocket Hall, Christies, 25 March 2003

A handsome set of this important work depicting the cities, palaces, country houses, parks and cathedrals of England at the beginning of the eighteenth century.

Nouveau théâtre de la Grande Bretagne is a much expanded version of Britannia illustrata which was first published in 1707 and enlarged in following years. "The whole collection, with its alternating title and relatively fluid content, provided the printsellers with a vehicle for disposing of copies of topographical engravings issued over a considerable period of time by a number of publishers" (Adams, London Illustrated, p.38). The content of copies therefore tends to vary and here the five plates called for in the index to volume 3 do not appear to have ever been included at the time of binding.