Comforts Bath by Rowlandson Thomas (3 results)

Soft cover. Condition: Fine. Paperback edition, published by Ashton House, 1985. First published in 1798, collects the satirical prints that chronicle a visit to Bath by the vain main character. Twelve color plates with description of each on the facing page. Introduction by Peter Harris. An oblong paperback, 8-1/4" X 5-1/4", 40 pages. No former ownership marks, no writing on the text pages. Not a library discard copy. Cover only has some slight bump marks. Attached are some photos of the copy we have in our inventory.

First edition; 4to (29.5 x 23 cm); 12 hand-coloured aquatint plates, loose within plate album, armorial bookplate to front pastedown, some light spotting not affecting legibility of the images, very good examples; later full calf album, turn-ins gilt rolled, all edges gilt, a little rubbed and scuffed. One of Rowlandson's rarest works depicting satirical scenes set in Bath. These 12 plates were designed to illustrate Anstey's New Bath Guide but were not used and never issued with a text (Abbey). Neither Tooley or Abbey call for a title page. Each of the 12 plates have signatures, while Tooley and Abbey sets vary. Abbey (Scenery), 40; Prideaux p350; Tooley 408.

The Complete and Scarce 1860 Hand-Colored Reprint ROWLANDSON, Thomas. The Comforts of Bath. [London, 1860]. Reprint edition, complete and scarce. Oblong quarto (10 5/16 x 12 5/8 in; 261 x 322 mm.). No text or title, as issued. Twelve hand-colored aquatint plates with gray wash borders after Rowlandson, each one aperture mounted onto a paper sheet. Average plate size including gray wash borders 6 3/8 x 8 11/16 inches; 162 x 221 mm.). Bound ca. 1900 by Rivière & Son (stamp signed on lower turn-in) in full crimson morocco. Covers with double gilt rules, front cover lettered in gilt, spine with two raised bands lettered and bordered in gilt, gilt board edges and turn-ins, all edges gilt, dark green coated end-papers. Ex libris S.P. Lohia with his circular bookplate on front paste-down. Short tear (neatly repaired) on top margin of sheet containing plate 6. A very fine set, the plates as fresh and clean as one could hope for. The first edition of 1798 was designed to illustrate Anstey's New Bath Guide, and according to Tooley, is "one of the rarest of Rowlandson items." This reprint in excellent facsimile was published about 1860; apart from difference in the texture of the paper they can be recognized by the absence of the Fores imprint. Never issued with text." (Abbey, Scenery, 40, note). This series of watercolor drawings gives us Rowlandson's visual satire on the activities at Bath, whether bathing, gaming, dining, sitting for a portrait, enjoying a concert, dancing or romancing. In each drawing, the figure of the rotund visitor to the Bath, reminiscent of Humphry Clinker's fussy Mr. Bramble, provides one point of view from which to view the scene, while Rowlandson gives us an outsider's view as well. Abbey, Scenery 40 (1798 edition); Tooley 408. Prideaux, p. 350. BM Satires 9321. The plates: [titles taken from the 1798 edition]. 1. The Physicians 2. The Concert 3. The Pump Room 4. The Fish Market 5. A Day Out Riding 6. The Portrait 7. The Baths 8. The Games 9. The Dinner 10. The Dancing 11. Public Breakfast 12. Bath Races Abbey, Scenery, 40 (note); Tooley, 408 (1798 first edition).