London:: Printed For Rodwell And Martin, New Bond Street. -, 1817 - 1819.
Physical Description
[iii]-xxxi, [1], 273, [3] p., [6], 77 [i.e. 75] pl. (some fold.): illus.; 232 mm. (Octavo.)
General Note
The pairs of numbers 54/55 and 56/57 are each assigned to one plate. Plate 28 is misnumbered as 20; 44 as 43; 56/7 as 60/61; 63 as 68 (all acknowledged in 'Directions To The Binder'). The 'Directions To The Binder' state that there are two plates 43, of which one (having five columns in front) should be cancelled for the correct one (which has six).
Contents
[Frontis., t.p., dedic.] - Preface - [Description of four plates, and 1 unnumb. pl.] - List Of The Plates - Advertisement [and 5 unnumb. pl.] - [Text, and pl.] - Emendations - Directions To The Binder; [colophon].
Responsibility Note
No plate is signed by a draughtsman, apart from pl. 33, which is signed 'curâ C.R.C.' [i.e. C.R. Cockerell]. But the Preface (p. xvi) reads, 'The authors have to acknowledge the kind assistance of Robert Cockerel, Esq., by whom they were favoured with the plan of the house of Pansa, and drawings of the paintings in Plates 41 and 42. For the greater part of the plan of the Forum, Plate 43, they are indebted to R. Sharp, Esq. ... the original drawings for this work were made with the camera lucida, by Sir William Gell ... The literary part with the exception of the first essay, are by his coadjutor.' All plates, apart from the frontis. and pl. 1, are signed by engravers - most by Chas. Heath, others by John Pye, S. Porter, J. Walker (junr.), G. Cooke, E. Goodall, W. Wise, Rawle, J. Shury, H. Moses, John Le Keux, G. Hollis, W. Lizars, H. Hobson or F.C. Lewis. Pl. 66 is signed as engraved by both Ch. Heath and James Lewis; pl. 73 is signed as engraved by both Ch. Heath and Robt. Wallis.
All plates appear to carry the publishers' imprint of Rodwell and Martin (some appear to have been cropped in binding).
The printer is named in the colophon: 'Printed by T. Davison, Whitefriars.'
The work is dedicated by The Authors to Sir Henry Charles Englefield.
References
Royal Institute of British Architects, British Architectural Library Royal Institute of British Architects Early Printed Books 1478-1840 Catalogue, vol. 2 (1995), no. 1191, p.665-6; F. Furchheim, Bibliografia di Pompei, Ercolano e Stabia (2nd.ed., 1891)., p.37.
On the impact of the publication of the excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum see the bibliographic note on Le Pitture Antiche D' Ercolano (1757-79).
Summary Note
Publication-dates are carried by all plates - ranging from Mar. 1 1817 to Sep. 1 1819. The work was published serially.
After travelling in Greece Gell settled in Italy in 1815; and he wrote that he gloried in communicating all new discoveries. On his death his drawings passed to his friend, Keppel Craven, who bequeathed them to the British Museum.
Plates show views of the ruins, with some plans, maps and reconstructions. Plate 75 is printed in color and plate 76 in sepia.
Copy Note
Imperfect: lacks plates 49 and 67.
Binding Note
19th-century red morocco; spine lettered 'Pompeii - Gell & Gandy', 'R.A.' and '1817-19'.
Subject
Architecture, Roman - Interior design, Roman - Cities - Italy - Campania - Naples - Pompeii (Extinct city) - History - 1st century
Archaeology - Excavations (sites) - Italy - Campania - Naples - Pompeii (Extinct city) - 19th century
Art history - Great Britain - 19th century
Pictorial works - Colour printing - Great Britain - 19th century