Lot 38: MACKENZIE, E.

A DESCRIPTIVE AND HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE TOWN AND COUNTY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, INCLUDING THE BOROUGH OF GATESHEAD. NEWCASTLE: MACKENZIE AND DENT, 1827

extra-illustrated, first edition, 2 volumes, 4to (277 x 208mm.), approximately 117 watercolour or wash drawings and 58 pencil drawings by J. Gomperts, the locations identified, most initialled and dated 1843, approximately 246 plates (mostly engravings), vellum gilt by Waters of Newcastle, lettered on upper cover, gilt edges

PROVENANCE

J.A. Bacon, gilt lettering on upper cover; other owners (see newspaper cutting and letter from Robert Robinson at beginning of first vol.); Wardington, bookplate

NOTE

a fine extra-illustrated copy with approximately 175 original drawings, mostly in watercolour or wash, providing an important record of the architecture and streets of newcastle in 1843, each with identification.

At the beginning of volume 1 is a letter by Robert Robinson to W.E. Adams dated 1886 explaining the background to this copy. ''[It] originally belonged to a gentleman named Bacon... [who] amused himself through many years by collecting local engravings etc. to illustrate this work, and employed a Scene-painter at the Theatre, to make him drawings of old Buildings, very many of which have disappeared since then''. Bacon intended the volumes to be given to the Library of the Literary and Philosophical Society but died whilst the volumes were being bound and they were subsequently sold at auction. The lettering on the upper cover reveals the artist to be J. Gomperts.