The Mansions of England in the Olden Time

London, 26, Haymarket. & 136. Strand.: Henry Southeran & Co, 1839. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Near Fine. Elephant Folio - over 15 - 23" tall. NASH Joseph. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THE LITHOGRAPH BOOKS WHEN COLOURED. - TOOLEY. 1839-1849 & 1869 - 5 volumes in total. First editions, 1839-1849, 4 volumes, large folios, containing 106 finely hand coloured lithographs printed by Hullmandel, mounted on card as issued on 104 leaves (Vol 1 26; Vol 2 27-52: Vol 3 53-78; Vol 4 79-104), contemporary red half crushed morocco, over red morocco cloth, gilt tooling, spines decoratively gilt tooled and titles. ACCOMPANIED by the expanded 1869 folio reissue of the text - 1869, titles in red & black inks, [4], [1], 2-74 pp, followed by numerous blanks. All with bookplates (Graham Watson & David Graham), along with evidence of bookplate removal to fpds, red marbled endpapers, a.e.g., the occasional spot, only. A lovely example and uncommon when coloured. (552*472 mm & 551*372-V5). (Abbey Scenery 402. Tooley 337). The rare de-luxe issue of Nash's most popular and celebrated work. It exemplifies his art with its illustrations of buildings enlivened with figures grouped to illustrate the habits of their owners in bygone days, somewhat in the manner of Cattermole. Nash roamed the country and sketched each one thoroughly on site. He confined himself strictly to reproducing architectural details, exterior and interior, but enlivened them romantically with scenes of Tudor domestic life, feasting, and revels that he researched carefully in the antiquarian works of Joseph Strutt. His goal was to revive interest in these old English buildings by presenting them as the natural setting for some very modern sentiments, combining hearty feasting and drinking with class conciliation, domestic comfort, and virtue. The Mansions' combination of architectural and antiquarian accuracy with contemporary values was devastatingly effective. (ODNB)