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Lear, Edward
Journals of a Landscape Painter in Albania, &c.
Publisher: Richard Bentley, London;
Date of Publication: 1851
Stock Code: 12281
FIRST EDITION, first printing. Large octavo, pp. [4], 428. Frontispiece map and 20 tinted lithographic plates printed by Hulmandell & Walton as called for. Publishers’ decorative royal blue cloth with gilt titles and motifs to spine and all-over arabesque design in blind to boards. Spine lightly toned and with a little wear at spine tips and lower joint; boards bruised to edge with wear to corners. Inner front hinge cracked but firmly holding; ownership inscription in ink to ffep; scattered light foxing, mainly to plates and adjacent leaves, otherwise contents clean. A very good copy in the publisher’s original cloth. Notes from two of the artist and poet’s travels, with vivid descriptions and observations of the remote areas of the Balkans beginning at Salonika and travelling through Turkey and Europe. Harsh travelling conditions, local customs and costumes and landscape and architecture are all depicted in detail and though Lear (1812-1888) is now best-known for his humorous verses, especially limericks which he popularised, his lifelong career was that of an artist. Lear travelled extensively, making distinctive wash drawings while on the move, which he later converted into oil and watercolour paintings, and illustrations for his books. £875.00