1793 GUIDE TO BATH, WITH 16 HAND-COLORED AQUATINTS, HANDSOMELY BOUND

IBBETSON, Julius Caesar. A Picturesque Guide to Bath, Bristol Hot-Wells, the River Avon, and the Adjacent Country. London: Hookham and Carpenter, 1793. Tall quarto, early 20th-century three-quarter dark green morocco, raised bands, top edge gilt, uncut. $2200.

First edition of this engaging 18th-century guide to the British resort town of Bath, with 16 hand-colored aquatints on heavy paper, handsomely bound.

This work exhibits the talents of three British artists experimenting in the medium of aquatint: John Laporte, watercolorist and drawing master at the military academy of Addiscombe, John Hassell, himself an accomplished drawing-master and publisher of works on watercolor painting and drawing, and Julius Ibbetson perhaps the most talented artist of the three, with regular exhibits at the Royal Academy. Without half title. Cancel at M4. A few plates misbound. Abbey 38. Tooley 277.

A lovely, wide-margined uncut copy, spine toned to brown. A handsome copy in very nearly fine condition.