Blagdon, Francis William | The Gloucester copy of Authentic Memoirs of the late George Morland

Blagdon, Francis William

Authentic Memoirs of the late George Morland, with remarks on his Abilities and Progress as an Artist: in which are interspersed a variety of anecdotes never before published; together with a fac-simile of his writing, specimens of his hieroglyphical sketches &c. &c. London: Printed for Edward Orme ... by Barnard and Sultzer, 1806 [but plates watermarked 1824]

Oblong folio (17 1/2 x 23 inches). Printed title, 7 leaves of text, 22 plates on 20 sheets, 7 of which printed in color, engravers include William Ward, T. Vivares, E. Bell, and R. Dodd. Contemporary half roan and marbled paper-covered boards, morocco lettering piece on the upper cover. 

The Duke of Gloucester copy — a rare English color plate book.

This relatively rare collection of prints after the work of George Morland was collected by Francis Blagdon. An unusual variety of printing processes were used in this book, published after Morland's death in 1804: aquatint, soft ground etching, stipple engraving, and mezzotint, with the mezzotints printed in color.

"Blagdon's Memoirs of George Morland is an extremely scarce book and I have had great difficulty in tracing copies to compare" (Tooley).

REFERENCE

Tooley 91; Abbey, Life 208

PROVENANCE

Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (bookplate to front pastedown; his sale, Christie's London, 27 January 2006, lot 634)