ACKERMANN, RUDOLPH [PUBLISHER] | A History of the University of Oxford. London: Ackermann, 1814 [watermarked 1812]

ACKERMANN, RUDOLPH [PUBLISHER]

A History of the University of Oxford. London: Ackermann, 1814 [watermarked 1812]

2 volumes, 4to (13 x 10 4/8 inches). Half-titles, list of subscribers, uncolored engraved portrait of Lord Grenville, 70 vividly handcolored aquatint views on 64 leaves after Pugin, Mackenzie, Westall and others by Bluck, Stadler, Hill and others, 17 costume plates by Agar after Unwins; some toning, offsetting of plates onto text. Contemporary black straight-grained morocco, covers elaborately gilt and tooled in blind after the design of a wrought-iron college gate, spines with raised bands in six compartments, all edges gilt, brown endpapers; hinges expertly strengthened, two corners just bumped. 

First edition, an early issue with the plates watermarked 1812, and without the 33 Founders portraits, which are not listed in the "Arrangement of the Plates", but with the first plate correctly captioned as "View of Oxford"

Ackermann's reputation as the publisher of colorplate books of the highest quality was established with the publication of The Microcosm of London, which appeared from 1808 in parts, completing publication in 1810, and contained 104 large folio handcolored aquatints. 

REFERENCES

Abbey, Scenery 278; Tooley 5