The World in Miniature.

London: R. Ackermann,, 1821-27. The complete World in Miniature, beautifully illustrated with hundreds of hand-coloured plates First edition of the entire 43-volume series, originally published in parts. This set, rarely found complete, is presented in an attractive contemporary binding. Shoberl's The World in Miniature "form a valuable and dainty series of costume plates, and the publisher may well claim 'spirit, fidelity, and elegance of execution for his' numerous graphic illustrations" (Hardie, p. 114). Frederic Shoberl (1775-1853) edited numerous works for Rudolph Ackermann, including several periodicals such as the English annual Forget-Me-Not and its juvenile version, as well as the Repository of Arts. "In addition to his work for Ackermann, Shoberl was printer and publisher of the Cornwall Gazette, Falmouth Packet, and Plymouth Journal (1818-19), a Conservative paper issued at Truro" (ODNB). Also interested in travel literature, Shoberl published several books on the topic, including Travellers in Switzerland (1803), Travels in Greece, Palestine, Egypt and Barbary (translated from a French original, 1812), and Travels in Caucasus and Georgia (translated from a German original, 1814). By 1820s Rudolph Ackermann (1764-1834) had established himself as one of the premium publishers of colour plate books in Britain, largely thanks to a number of works on English topography starting with The Microcosm of London in 1808. "As a publisher he was both creative and efficient, bringing to the commercial production of colour plate books innovative techniques and an uncompromising attention to detail which ensured uniform high quality" (ibid.). The charming illustrations aimed to, "increase the store of knowledge concerning the various branches of the great family of Man, not only for adults, but also keeping in view the instruction and amusement of the juvenile student" (Abbey). It covered many areas, still largely unfamiliar to a Western audience at the time. The South Sea Islands volumes cover Tonga, Hawaii, the Marquesas, Easter Island, Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand, the Marshall Islands, the Caroline Islands, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, and Pitcairn Island. In the volumes on Africa, Shoberl seeks to explain the customs, religious practices, industry, and art of the region, in particular with reference to the Moors, as well as the Wolof and Mandinka peoples. Shoberl's account of Japan was an important introduction to the country for Western readers, who then had few first-hand English accounts to go by, and was textually indebted to narratives by European travellers such Kämpfner, Charlevoix, Thunberg, Golovnin, and Titsingh. 4Three volumes, duodecimo (135 x 88 mm). Contemporary light brown calf, flat spines gilt in compartments, and gilt-lettered direct, covers ornamentally blocked in blind and decorated in gilt, marbled edges, pale brown endpapers, green silk ties. With 646 plates (line- and stipple-engravings, and aquatints), all but 4 hand-coloured, some folding, 2 coloured folding maps. Bookplates removed, minor rubbing, small area with worming on front cover of Illyria vol. 2, leather lifting at front turn-in of Turkey vol. 3, a few spines or joints with neat repairs, offsetting from plates, occasional slight spotting. A very good set. Abbey, Travel 6; Tooley 515; Martin Hardie, English Coloured Plates, 1906.