“THE ROMANTIC BEAUTIES OF NATURE ARE SO SINGULAR AND EXTRAVAGANT IN THIS PRINCIPALITY”: FIRST ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF WYNDHAM’S TOUR THROUGH MONMOUTHSHIRE AND WALES, 1781, WITH 16 FINELY ENGRAVED PLATES

(WALES) WYNDHAM, Henry Penruddocke. (GRIMM, Samuel Hieronymus, illustrator). A Tour through Monmouthshire and Wales, Made in the Months of June, and July, 1774. And in the Months of June, July, and August, 1777. Salisbury: E. Easton, 1781. Large quarto, modern full burgundy calf gilt, raised bands, uncut. $2800.

Second and best edition—the first illustrated edition—of Wyndham’s tour of Monmouthshire and Wales, with 16 fine full-page copper-engraved plates. An attractively bound, uncut copy.

In 1774, Wyndham visited Wales, and in the following year he published anonymously A Gentleman's Tour through Monmouthshire, and Wales. This was an octavo, with only a single frontispiece illustration. Wyndham revisited the area in 1777, and in 1781 published this quarto second edition of his Tour through Monmouthshire and Wales, declaring his authorship of the work and adding the illustrations of Swiss watercolorist Samuel Hieronymus Grimm, who accompanied Wyndham on the second journey. Bound with half title and errata leaf. Lowndes, 3006. Early owner signature to title page.

A few instances of marginal spotting. A lovely uncut copy in fine condition.