Daniell, Samuel

Oblong folio (17 7/8 x 23 in.; 452 x 585 mm). 12 hand-colored plates including 11 aquatints and one lithograph; occasional minor finger-soiling, original guards creased with a few spots, closed tear to letterpress title repaired. Contemporary calf-backed marbled boards; rebacked to style with morocco label preserved, corners worn.

Abbey, Travel 410

FIRST EDITION. ''In Martin Hardie's opinion [in English Coloured Books] the best plates are those of landscape, but many will find the natural history plates more interesting both technically and artistically. These plates are partly printed in colour, which enables a brilliant effect to be obtained, particularly on the bodies of the animals, where the colour is broken by the tiny white flecks of the aquatint grain, giving a subtle sheen, and conveying the impression of smooth bulk, especially on the flanks of the elephant'' (Abbey).

Samuel Daniell was the younger brother of William and nephew of Thomas Daniell. He arrived in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1805, where he was appointed Secretary to the Board of Revenue and Commerce, and latterly Ranger of Woods and Forests, which gave him the freedom to travel the island and record what he saw. He died in Ceylon in 1811 aged 36. A relatively scarce work.