MAGNA BRITANNIA.... Volume 1 Part 1 BEDFORDSHIRE

An exceptional copy with 77 extra illustrations bound in, including original material (possibly by Thomas Fisher).

MAGNA BRITANNIA Being a Concise Topographical Account of the Several Counties of Great Britain. Volume 1 Part 1 - Bedfordshire.

4to (28cm x 24cm x 4.5cm), xxi + pp174 + p173* to 175* +p176 to 189 i.e. complete text for Bedfordshire with name and general indexes, county map as frontispiece and 11 further plates as called for, together with 77 additional illustrations bound in the relevant sections, including engravings, lithographs and original sketches.

Later (late 19th century?) half morocco over marbled boards, all edges gilt.

Some of the pencil sketches are directly followed by printed versions of the same subject, suggesting they may have been the preliminary studies of the artist. Thomas Fisher is well represented in the book, having created prints specifically to go with this work, and it may be that some of the initial sketches bound in are Fisher originals.

The brothers Lysons began the grand project of creating a 'Concise Topographical Account of the Several Counties of Great Britain' with Bedfordshire in 1806, which formed the first part of Volume 1 (followed by Berks and Bucks). They proceeded alphabetically through the counties but by the time they got to Devon, Samuel was dead and the project stopped. It is not the only time that Bedfordshire has benefitted from its place at the head of the alphabetical list of counties - probably the only list it has ever headed. This is the second printing of Volume 1 - 1813.

It is not unusual to find a copy of Lysons furnished with extra illustrations, but this copy is exceptional both in the quantity of added material and in the inclusion of original skeches.

A little wear to the binding - corners bumped; occasional light foxing most notably to preliminary pages; generally VG.