Antiquities of Great-Britain, illustrated in views of Monasteries, Castles, and Churches, now existing. Engraved from drawings made by Thomas Hearne. by Hearne, Thomas (Byrne, W. engraver) - 1786-1801

Printed by James Phillips, in George Yard, Lombard Street, and Published by T. Hearne and W. Byrne. London. 1786. Oblong folio. Title page. Engraved frontispiece of Malmesbury Abbey, 51 further engraved plates; 20 further engraved plates. Subscribers' list (4)pp. with neat handwritten addenda Index of plates, with neat handwritten addenda for the additional subscriber's plates. Descriptive text in French and English to accompany each plate. Contemporary half calf, spine in six with raised bands, gilt rules and lettering to front cover; bumped, top and tail of spine and corners ragged. Front hinge cracked but firm. Crease and small nick to edge of title page. Text and plates with occasional light foxing.

With 20 additional subscriber's plates. 72 plates in total.

Hearne, Thomas (1744 –1 817), watercolour painter. Hearne and the engraver William Byrne began to record and illustrate the historic monuments of Great Britain, published in a series of engravings between 1778 and 1806, and subsequently in two volumes. A founder of the English School of Watercolour, he influenced both Girtin and Turner. Hearne was elected to the Society of Antiquaries in 1793.

Provenance: The owner of this copy is identified in the Subscribers list as Mr Picard of York. Leonard Pic[k]ard was a land agent, executor and trustee. He was Steward of the City of York's Estates, and appears to have been a steward to the Archbishop of York. He lived at No 47 Bootham, York. He died in 1801, and his subscription to the second portfolio of engravings ends at that point.