1. Gilpin, William. [Castle-Freke Library Bookplates]

Collection of four Volumes (bound in two) by Gilpin – All from the historical library at Castle Freke (Castlefreke, West Cork / Ireland). The Volumes include: I. & II. Observations Relative Chiefly to Picturesque Beauty, Made in the Year 1776, on Several Parts of Great Britain; particularly the High-Lands of Scotland. [Second Edition, with an “Account of the Prints” bound to the rear] / III. Observations on the River Wye and several Parts of South Wales &c. relative chiefly to Picturesque Beauty; Made in the summer of the Year 1770 (Third Edition). / IV. An Essay on Prints – [″The chief intention of the following work was to put the elegant amusement of collecting prints, on a more rational footing; by giving the unexperienced collector a few principles and cautions to assist him”] (Fourth Edition with the printed dedication “To the Honorable Horace Walpole in Deference to his Taste in the Polite Arts; and the Valuable Researches he has made to improve them; the following work is inscribed by his most obedient and very humble servant, William Gilpin”). [Volumes I & II with 40 original illustrations and vintage 18th century maps [correctly 39 illustrations and one table], for example of Loch Lomond and the Firth of Forth/ all illustrations are vintage mezzotint-plates].

Mixed Editions. Four Volumes (bound in two). London, Printed for R. Blamire, Strand, 1792. Octavo. Pagination: Volume I: XI, [1], 221 pages with 24 mezzotints / Volume II: 195, XVI pages with 16 mezzotints and an “Account of the Prints” as well as “Translations of Latin Passages” / [Volume III]: [River Wye]: XVI, 152 pages with 16 (of 17) full – page mezzotints / [Volume IV]: [An Essay on Prints]: XIII, [3], 174 pages plus XI pages Index and 1 page Errata. Hardcover / Early 19th century quarter – morocco with gilt lettering and ornament on spine. Both volumes bound in unison. Very good + condition with only minor signs of external wear. Pages 185 – 191 of Volume I with some stronger browning. Otherwise the interior very clean. All mezzotints in very good or even better condition. This is the original copy from the historical Castle-Freke Library in West Cork (Ireland), with two armorial bookplates to front and rear pastedown with the family’s motto ‘Pro Patria’. With two pages of manuscript annotations by a contemporary hand with a reference between the common name “Tarbet” in Scotland and a place-name in County Kerry in Ireland” (pages 13 of Volume II) / another entry is on page 12 of Volume II regarding the name-sake “Loch-Loung” for a Lake of ships in Scotland and Ireland.

2. Milner, Rev. [Bishop John Milner] / [Charles Heath] / [Henry Marten].

Sammelband with several publications bound in one Volume: 1. Rev. Milner – An Historical and Critical Account of Winchester Cathedral with an Engraved View and Ichnographical Plan of that Fabric. Extracted from the Rev. Mr.Milner’s History and and Antiquities of Winchester to which is added “A Review of its Modern Monuments” (Winchester, 1801 / 148 pages) / 2. Heath, Charles – The Excursion Down the Wye from Ross to Monmouth; Comprehending Historical and Descriptive Accounts of Wilton and Goodrich Castles; Also of Court Field, The Nursery of King Henry The Fifth; New Wear, with Every other Object in the Voyage. The Celebrated Family of Swift, who resided at Goodrich, are not overlooked: and, throughout the whole are Interspersed, A Variety of Amusing and Interesting Circumstances, Never Before collected: Particularly Memoirs and Anecdotes of the Life of John Kyrle, Esq. Rendered Immortal by the Muse of Pope, under the Character of “The Man of Ross”. By Charles Heath, Printer, Monmouth. Being Part the First of this Work, – which will include the Whole of the Voyage from Ross to Chepstow. Part II will contain Monmouth. Part III from thence to the Junction of the Wye with Severn. Pointing out every interesting Object in the Course of this much-admired Excursion. (London, 1799 / 246 unnumbered pages with mentioning on the last page of this section: “End of First Part” [This information seems to be the same in all versions of this book in international libraries and it is possible that Parts II and III were not published as advertised on the titlepage but in a different way]) / 3. Henry Marten – Monmouthshire [has its own titlepage but can very well be Part II and III of the previous Volume] – “Monmouthire – Historical and Descriptive Accounts of the Ancient and Present State of Chepstow Castle – Including Persfield, with the various Views in those pleasurable Regions – Also, Notices of Caerwent, An Ancient Roman Station; Moyne’s Court, Matherne, and St. Pierre – The Old and New Passages, on both sides of the Water – The Roads to Bristol and Gloucester; and a Variety of other interesting particulars deserving the Stranger’s Notice. Interspersed with curious Biographical Anecdotes relating to the Life of Henry Marten, one of the Judges of King Charles I. confined twenty years in this Castle. Collected from original Papers and unquestionable Authorities by Charles Heath, Printer, Monmouth (c.1802) //

Winchester / London, Ja. Robbins, Charles Heath, 1801 – 1802. Octavo. Pagination of the Sammelband: First Book: Rev.John Milner – Account of Winchester Cathedral Part: Frontispiece of “North West View of the Cathedral), [2], Fold-out-plan of “Ichnography of the Cathedral Church”, 148 pages / Second Book: Charles Heath: “The Excursion Down the Wye…etc.” – First Part: 246 unnumbered pages / Second / [and possibly Third] Part: 188 unnumbered pages. Hardcover / Original, decorative half-leather of the early 19th century with original spinelabel, restored and with new endpapers and new marbled paper-covers on original boards. In protective Mylar. One page with a minor cut (without text-loss). Otherwise in very good condition with some signs of external wear. This very rare work originates from the wonderful Meade – Collection in Ballymartle (near Kinsale, West Cork), with the name of one of the Meade – family-members written on the titlepage and the bookplate / Exlibris of Richard Meade to the original endpaper.