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 a🏅fter th▨e 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 an🃏d 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 fꦕront pastedown; his sale, Christie's London, 27 January ❀2006, lot 634)