London: Printed for the Author; and sold by Edward and Charles Dilly, et al., 1779. First edition. 4to. (xii), 147 pp. With a fine double fore-edge painting, of four scenes, depicting Bamburgh Castle, Rye, Grimsthorpe Castle, and Woburn Abbey, in England. Full contemporary vellum, stamped in gilt with blue ruled border and blue wash spine compartments, front and rear boards with graphite drawings, boards rubbed and drawings faded, small chip at bottom rear fore-edge; all edges gilt; marbled endpapers; by Edwards of Halifax; scattered spotting to text; in tan cloth slip case.

A fine binding by the Edwards of Halifax bindery, with a double fore-edge painting depicting four bucolic English scenes.

Edwards of Halifax was established by a distinguished English family of bookbinders and booksellers, of whom William Halifax (1723-1808) and his son James (1756-1816) were the most famous. William Halifax was known for his revival of fore-edge painting, his use of Etruscan calf, and the development of the process of rendering vellum transparent. In 1785 the bindery was awarded one of the earliest patents in the field of bookbinding (No. 1462) for “Embellishing Books bound in Vellum, by making Drawings on the Vellum which are not liable to be Defaced but by Destroying the Vellum itself.”