SWITZERLAND. Illustrated in a Series of Views Taken Expressly For This Work by W. H. Bartlett, Esq.

London: George Virtue, 1836. 2 volumes. First edition. With steel-engraved vignette title-page in each volume, 107 steel-engraved plates by Bartlett with blue-tinted tissue guards, and a large folding map in volume 1. 4to, very handsomely bound in fine contemporary three-quarter black morocco over marbled-paper covered boards, the spines with raised bands elaborately gilt decorated, lettered in gilt in two compartments. iv, [2], 188; [6], 152 pp. A very handsome and very well preserved copy, the binding in excellent state of preservation, the text with essentially none of the usual foxing, a couple of the plates a touch dusty at the blank portion of the plate, otherwise the plates are very clean and bright, essentially pristine and without the normal foxing, in all an excellent copy. FIRST EDITION OF AN EXTREMELY BEAUTIFUL WORK FILLED WITH PICTURESQUE STEEL ENGRAVED SCENES OF SWITZERLAND. William Bartlett traveled extensively throughout Europe and the East with his good friend Dr. Beattie, and brought home over a thousand drawings. Eventually they were engraved and published into volumes with descriptive text by the latter. Here we find one of one of Bartlett's best works, partly attributable to the magnificent scenery of the country described. Each engraving combines attention to detail, subtle use of lighting and shade, and romantic portrayal of the landscape. Scenes are rendered from virtually every corner of the country and include both natural and architectural compositions.
The text focuses heavily on the history of each locale but also includes local customs, sights, and first hand travel impressions. A somewhat elusive title in the Bartlett oeuvre, these illustrations of Switzerland are typical of his best and most famous work.