Daniell—Ayton | Voyage Round Great Britain... with A Series of Views, 1814-25, 8 text vols in 2 and 2 boxes of plates

William Daniell and Richard Ayton

A Voyage Round Great Britain, undertaken in the summer of the year 1813, and Commencing from the Land's-End, Cornwall, by Richard Ayton. with A Series of Views, Illustrative of the Character and Prominenent Features of the Coast, drawn and engraved by William Daniell. London: Longman, Hurst Rees, Orme and Brown, and William Daniell, 1814-1825.

text: 8 volumes bound in 2, folio (363 x 262mm.), titles to each volume, contemporary half calf over marbled boards, spines with raised bands in 5 compartments, sprinkled edges, green endpapers, prelims foxed, some browning to volume iv, extremities rubbed;

plates: 308 hand-coloured aquatints, each 259 x 370mm., by and after William Daniell, numbered in manuscript, loose in two marbled quarter calf boxes, labels to spines, without uncoloured stipple-engraving of "Kemaes Head, Pembrokshire" found in some copies, first plate burnt at upper right corner (hardly affecting image), some foxing and offsetting, boxes worn

This monumental work has been described as "the most important colour plate book on British topography" (Tooley). Following the success of Oriental Scenery compiled with his uncle Thomas Daniell (see next lot) William Daniell (1739-1837) embarked in 1813 on a journey around the coast of Great Britain, to make drawings of views of the natural scenery. He undertook this project because, "while the inland counties of England had been so hackneyed by travellers and quartos, the coast has hitherto been almost unaccountably neglected ... But many, who would not venture in pursuit of amusement out of the latitude of good inns and level roads, to make paths for themselves over rocks and crags, may still be pleased ... with the character of their own shores, where most conspicuous for boldness and picturesque beauty. It is the design, therefore, of the following voyage, minutely to describe the whole coast of Great Britain ... to illustrate the grandeur of its natural scenery, the manners and employment of its people and the modes of life in its wildest parts" (Introduction).

The product was detailed and illuminating: "such a succession of beautiful plates is scarcely to be found elsewhere, and they are unsurpassed both in delicacy of drawing and tinting." (Aquatint Engraving, pp. 279-280). Its publication spanned the years 1814-1825: the work was originally issued in parts costing 10s.6d. each, or £60 when completed. During his tours, his sketches were made with pencil and paper, and a camera obscura to trace outlines; during the winter, when he was not touring, he would produce aquatints from the sketches. Volumes 3-6, which dealt with Scotland, are considered the most important section. The original aquatint plates are owned by the Tate Gallery, London.

LITERATURE

Abbey, Scenery 16; Bobins II: 636; Prideaux 326; Tooley 177