An essay on prints

London: printed for R. Blamire, in the Strand, 1792. Early Reprint. Quarter-Morocco. Near Fine. Fourth Edition (so stated) of the first standard guide on print collecting in England, including detailed commentary on Hogarth's Rake's Progress. 8vo: xiii,[3],174,xi,[1]pp. Contemporary quarter black morocco over marbled boards, flat spine in six compartments between gilt rules, gilt urn stamped in each but second titled in gilt. An excellent copy, tightly bound and generally clean and bright with only the occasional minor smudge and handling mark and a few stray spots of foxing. Barbier, pp. 24-27. Lowndes II 895. . First published anonymously in 1768 (Gilpin's authorship was only revealed with the third edition, in 1781). On the continent its influence spread through German, French and Dutch translations. Gilpin's "aim, as the title-page indicates, was to outline ‘the Principles of picturesque Beauty, the Different Kinds of Prints, and the Characters of the most noted Masters'. . . . The Essay defines ‘picturesque' as ‘a term expressive of that peculiar kind of beauty, which is agreeable in a picture', but does not develop the definition." (ODNB) Among prints singled out for detailed consideration are Salvator Rosa's "Death of Polycrates," Waterloo's "Tobias," and Hogarth's "Rake's Progress." The collector is "cautioned against indulging a desire of becoming possessed of all the works of any master. . . . against a superstitious veneration for names. . . . [against] making the public taste our standard. . . [against] rat[ing prints'] value by their scarceness. . . [against] buying copies for originals," and against acquiring poor impressions. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).