[Panoramic Scroll] Descriptive and Topographical Guide to Costa Scena; Or, a Novel and Interesting Cruise along the Southern Coast of the River Thames; Dedicated to His Most Gracious Majesty George IV. Costa Scena, or a Cruise along the Southern Coast of Kent, the Drawing taken from Nature by Robert Havell, Junior

A spectacular hand-colored aquatint panorama, comprised of 62 numbered scenes -- and an engraved title or text box at the opening end -- has is 564 cm long and 8 cm tall, inspired by, or depicting, a trip made by George IV in 1822, culminating in a State Visit to Scotland. This ultra-long panorama, which is one continuous illustration, was made by joining seven panels. It is housed in the original boxwood scroll drum -- or cylinder or column. The panorama is revealed by pulling at an end tab, and one can retract the panorama by turning the top piece. Onto the side of the drum is mounted a glossy leaf, which appears to us to be a very thin piece of metal. Tin, we would surmise. On this leaf is depicted an allegorical scene depicting the seated goddess Britannia on a shell chariot, one sandalled foot atop an orb obviously representing the world. In her company is Neptune holding his triton. The two horses propelling the chariot are being driven by a standing seraph reins in hand, a foot planted on the back of each horse. The striking illustration is rendered in a yellow/gold, with the background color black. The pastedown does have a good many scratches and spots where the surface color is lost. Still, the illustration has suffered little from this, and the loss, such as it is, doesn't seriously mar the beauty of the object. Small chip to drum at its base, and other signs of light use and handling of the wood. The panorama has some soiling at the end, a few short closed tears, and some minor edge repairs, but otherwise, it is complete and we would say, uncompromised. The pull tab does have trivial chipping and rubbing, with a tape repair, visible on its back, reattaching it to the panorama. Lacking the original brochure --our accompanying booklet is made from a photocopy of the original.…