PICTURESQUE VIEWS ON THE RIVER WYE From Its Source At Plinlimmon Hill, to its Junction with the Severn Below Chepstow, with Observations on the Public Buildings, and Other Works of Art in the Vicinity

Contemporary tree calf, rebacked in the 19th century, ruled and lettered gilt on spine. Attractive marbled endpapers. 4to. 9.5 x 6.5 inches (24 x 16.5 cms). xii, 159pp. With an engraved map and 31 tissue-guarded plates (all present as called for). Binding somewhat worn but otherwise clean, sound and tight. A little age toning to edges of title-page, a few tissue guards lightly foxed and a few tissue guards slightly damaged. An occasional foxing spot passim but text and plates are otherwise clean, sound and free from defects. A very attractive series of etchings on copper in aquatint from drawings made by the author. Samuel Ireland was one of the victims of the notorious Shakespeare hoax in 1796 (later shown to be the work of his son, William) but was rather unfairly blamed for this himself. His credibility with the public suffered as a result and it is said that this was reflected in very low sales of his Views on the Wye when it was published the following year, leading to the comparative rarity of the first edition.…