A Picturesque And Descriptive View of the City of Dublin, Displayed In a Series of the most Interesting Scenes taken in the Year 1791 By James Malton With A brief authentic History from the earliest accounts to the Present Time
ii, 18, [48], 2 p., [32] pl. (incl. fold. map, engr. t.-pl., engr. dedic., frontis.); 261×535 mm. (Oblong folio).
General Note
The plates do not carry numbers, but are assigned numbers (1-32) in the 'List Of The Plates' (numbers 1-4 being assigned to the folding map, engr. t.-pl., engr. dedic. and frontispiece). Some copies lack the last leaf, carrying the address 'To The Encouragers Of This Work' and the 'List Of The Plates'. In some copies plate 32 ('Key Plate to the Barracks, and distant View of Dublin') is bound in earlier in the book. In some copies plates 8 (view of Parliament House) and 15 (view of the Custom House) are in early states, printed in sepia and dated 1790. Some copies lack pl. 1, the folded map of Dublin.
Contents
[Map, t.-pl., dedic., frontis.] - Preface - Brief History Of Dublin - On The Castle, Walls, And Increase Of The City - [Plates, with descriptive text] - To The Encouragers Of This Work - List Of The Plates.
Responsibility Note
Fourteen plates carry the publisher's imprint of James Malton, London (pl. 4-6, 9, 12, 16, 20, 23, 24, 27-31); ten, that of James Malton, London, and G. Cowen, Dublin (7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17-19, 25, 26); two, that of J. Malton, London, and I. Cowen, Dublin (8, 13); five, no publisher's imprint (2, 3, 21, 22, 32); the folded map (pl. 1), the imprint of W. Faden, London, sold by W. Allen and J.Archer, Dublin.
All the plates are signed as drawn and engraved by J. Malton, except pl. 1 (the folded map, signed as engraved by S.J. Neele, and with a vignette signed as engraved by J. Collyer [A.R.A.]), pl. 2 (the engraved title plate, signed as written by Tomkins and engraved by Vincent), pl. 3 (the engraved dedication, signed as written by Walsh and engraved by Vincent), and plates 5, 6 and 32 (which are unsigned).
The work is dedicated by James Malton to the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs, Common-Council, Freemen and Citizens of Dublin; but additionally each view (pl. 7-31) has its own dedicatee, whose name appears on the accompanying page of text.
References
R.V. Tooley, English Books With Coloured Plates 1790-1860 A Bibliographical Account (1954; repr. 1987), no. 315, p.258-9; Scenery of Great Britain and Ireland In Aquatint ... library of J. R. Abbey (1952/R1991), 473.
ESTC, T90232
Summary Note
No publication-date appears on the title plate. In fact the work was published serially (cf. the note, 'To The Encouragers Of This Work', which states, 'Mr. James Malton has at length the pleasure of presenting to his friends and the public, the Sixth, and last, Number of his View Of Dublin'). The plates carry the publication dates, as follows (plate-numbers are those assigned in the 'List Of The Plates'): 1792, six plates (nos. 4, 5, 7, 14, 15, 25); 1793, seven pl. (8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 17, 26); 1794, four pl. (3, 11, 18, 19); 1795, six pl. (6, 21, 22, 27, 30, 31); 1796, two pl. (24, 29); 1797, three pl. (1, 23, 28); 1798, one pl. (20); 1799, one pl. (16); undated, two pl. (2, 32).
Some time after 1799 (probably about 1818) the work was reissued with coloured plates.
James Malton was a brother of Thomas Malton, who was also a celebrated topographic draughtsman.
In 1802 James Malton published A Collection of Designs for Rural Retreats or Villas.
Provenance
The last two parts (nos. 5 & 6) were purchased for £2 2s. between 25 March and 24 June 1799 (see RA Treasurer's Account Books, 'Abstracts of Bills', Lady Day Quarter 1799).
Binding Note
20th-century half calf, grey cloth-covered boards; spine lettered 'Malton's Views In Dublin' and 'R.A.'
Subject
Architecture - Cities - Ireland - Dublin - History - Description and travel
Drawings - Great Britain - Ireland - 18th century - Picturesque, the
Views - Maps - Great Britain - 18th century
Pictorial works - Aquatints - Great Britain - 18th century