Complete in four volumes (bound in two). Undated but circa 1850. Circa 1500pp. Hundreds of engraved illustrations in text, full page and plated. Uniformly bound in half leather over marbled boards, gilt lettering and decoration on a six-panelled spine. All edges marbled. Marbled endpapers. 4to. Leather is a little rubbed and scuffed on corners and around spine, rubbed around edges, with some minor indentations on extreme edges. Armorial bookplate on front paste down of both volumes, for RDC at Pennoyre (likely of Pennoyre House in Powys but no proven connection). Some light spotting on first and last few leaves of both volumes; the first volume has a bump on the fore edge affecting the first 15 or so leaves. Volumes II to IV have additional title pages, lithographed.
A handsome, if worn, of this important mid 19th-century work: at the time a popular illustrated publication focussing on the diverse historic cities, sites, country houses and landscapes and cultures of the British Isles (and not, as far as perusal suggests, extending more widely into the British Empire), generously illustrated with engravings. It is possible that the publication, originally issued in parts between 1847 and 1850, was planned to have further issues covering the wider realms of the British Empire.
